Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), a conservative firebrand acquitted last year in a historic impeachment trial, has reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid trial on long-standing state felony securities fraud charges.
Paxton was charged nearly a decade ago, accused of defrauding investors at a Dallas-area tech company by not disclosing that he was paid by the company to recruit them. The case has been delayed for years by pretrial disputes over the trial’s location and special prosecutors’ fees.
Under the agreement reached in Harris County district court on Tuesday, prosecutors would dismiss felony charges against Paxton if he successfully completes community service and advanced legal education classes and pays restitution of about $300,000. He had previously pleaded not guilty.
Paxton, 61, did not have to formally enter a plea or testify Tuesday. (He also declined to testify during his impeachment trial.) He had faced up to 99 years in prison if convicted, as well as disqualification from holding state office.
Special prosecutors have been working with Paxton’s attorneys in recent weeks to resolve the charges before an April 15 trial date.
Paxton also had faced U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges, but those were dismissed by a federal judge in 2017.
He still faces an ongoing FBI investigation into accusations of corruption related to a wealthy donor, which also figured in his impeachment trial.
Paxton is fighting efforts by former aides to compel him to testify in a state whistleblower lawsuit that includes allegations that triggered his impeachment by the Texas House.
Paxton was charged nearly a decade ago, accused of defrauding investors at a Dallas-area tech company by not disclosing that he was paid by the company to recruit them. The case has been delayed for years by pretrial disputes over the trial’s location and special prosecutors’ fees.
Under the agreement reached in Harris County district court on Tuesday, prosecutors would dismiss felony charges against Paxton if he successfully completes community service and advanced legal education classes and pays restitution of about $300,000. He had previously pleaded not guilty.
Paxton, 61, did not have to formally enter a plea or testify Tuesday. (He also declined to testify during his impeachment trial.) He had faced up to 99 years in prison if convicted, as well as disqualification from holding state office.
Special prosecutors have been working with Paxton’s attorneys in recent weeks to resolve the charges before an April 15 trial date.
Paxton also had faced U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges, but those were dismissed by a federal judge in 2017.
He still faces an ongoing FBI investigation into accusations of corruption related to a wealthy donor, which also figured in his impeachment trial.
Paxton is fighting efforts by former aides to compel him to testify in a state whistleblower lawsuit that includes allegations that triggered his impeachment by the Texas House.
