Just weeks before his scheduled trial, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who vehemently denies the allegations, received some unexpected news. Prosecutors, in a surprising turn of events, have agreed to drop the charges against him in the nine-year-old securities fraud case. However, this dismissal comes with certain conditions that must be met.
According to a pretrial agreement reviewed by ABC News, the state’s top lawyer, Paxton, will need to fulfill a set of obligations. These include completing community service, undertaking legal ethics courses, and making a restitution payment of almost $300,000.
In 2015, shortly after Paxton assumed office, he faced charges for allegedly defrauding investors. The accusation stated that he had encouraged them to invest in a tech startup, without disclosing that he was being paid to promote it.
Paxton maintains his innocence and has consistently denied any involvement in any illegal activities.
In a statement posted on Tuesday afternoon, he confidently declared, “I am not guilty, and there will never be a conviction in this case.”
Paxton is not required to enter a plea under the pretrial agreement. Prosecutors did not provide any additional comments at this time.
Facing potential decades behind bars, Paxton could have been convicted of fraud.
The trial has faced several delays due to various reasons, including venue changes and an ongoing dispute over payment for the prosecutors.
Paxton recently made an attempt to dismiss the charges against him, arguing that the trial had been excessively long. However, the state placed the blame on Paxton for causing most of the delays, and a judge denied his claim that his right to a speedy trial had been violated.
Ken Paxton, a prominent Republican figure who assumed the role of attorney general in 2015 and secured a substantial victory in his most recent election, has encountered numerous challenges throughout his tenure.
After facing 16 articles of impeachment, he was ultimately acquitted last year by the state Senate. It is worth noting that a majority of the state House, including several Republicans, supported the articles brought against him.
In the fall of 2020, Paxton came under investigation by federal authorities in Texas. The FBI initiated the probe after a group of former employees blew the whistle on alleged abuse of office and misconduct by Paxton.
No charges have been filed against Paxton in the investigation, and the Department of Justice stated that its Public Integrity Section would be assuming control of the case, which was initially led by the state.
Paxton vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
