The Texas attorney general’s personal legal troubles are back in the headlines: the latest is his acceptance of $100,000 from someone whose company was under investigation by his own office. Paxton says it’s okay because it was a “gift” from a friend and he personally was not involved in the investigation. Ethics advocates on the other hand have raised some red flags.
Jim Riddlesperger, professor of political science at Texas Christian University, says the bigger issue, rather than whether he broke any specific laws, is the fact that Paxton is once again in legal trouble.
“This is yet another one of a long series of appearances of impropriety,” he says, “and obviously that’s particularly problematic from an attorney general, who is ostensibly the chief law enforcement officer of the state.”
What you’ll hear in this segment:
– Why Ken Paxton’s newest legal woes “merit special attention” than those of other public officials
– Whether his other legal case involving his personal finance has influence on this newest investigation
– What exceptions exist for personal donations and how Texas’ ethics laws have evolved over time
Post by Hannah McBride.
