Ken Paxton Considered for Trump Cabinet as Attorney General
Donald Trump, the President-elect, is contemplating the appointment of Ken Paxton, the impeached Texas Attorney General, to his cabinet.
According to a CNN report from November 7, Paxton is among the candidates being considered to lead the Justice Department. Other potential candidates include Utah Senator Mike Lee and former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker.
Impeachment and Allegations
In May 2023, the Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach Paxton, accusing him of using his position to benefit Nate Paul, a real estate developer and Republican donor. The allegations suggest that Paul secured employment for a senate aide involved in an affair with Paxton, who in turn obstructed state investigations into Paul’s business operations.
In 2020, eight deputies from Paxton’s office alerted federal authorities about the alleged quid pro quo. Paxton reportedly retaliated by firing the whistleblowers, who later filed a wrongful termination lawsuit. A settlement was reached in 2023, with Paxton agreeing to pay $3.3 million.
Despite these events, the Texas Senate did not convict Paxton, allowing him to remain in office. He is the third official in Texas history to face impeachment, following Governor Jim Ferguson in 1917 and a district judge in 1975.
Previous Legal Troubles
Paxton’s legal issues date back to July 2015, when a Texas grand jury indicted him on securities fraud charges and for failing to register as a financial adviser. He was accused of persuading investors to fund a tech company without revealing his potential financial gains. The case is still pending.
In response to the indictment, Paxton stated, “I am innocent of these charges. It is a travesty that some would attempt to hijack our system of justice to achieve political ends they could not accomplish at the ballot box.”
2020 Election Claims
Paxton has also been a supporter of Trump’s unfounded claims regarding the 2020 election. He petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate President Joe Biden’s election victory, a request the court declined. The State Bar of Texas subsequently investigated Paxton to assess whether his actions constituted professional misconduct.
As Trump prepares to announce his Attorney General and other cabinet appointments, Paxton’s potential nomination remains under consideration.
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