When it seems like every time I turn around, there's another Republican caught with his hand in the cookie jar, I have to go looking for evidence of the comforting Both Sides counterbalance.
The FBI is reportedly widening its investigation into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after new details in claims by former staffers that he helped a real estate developer in return for renovations to his million-dollar home and a job for his alleged mistress.
Last fall, a number of senior staffers accused Texas's highest-ranking attorney of committing crimes to assist Nate Paul, later alleging that the developer or companies owned by him had a hand in work done on Paxton's home.
All of those making accusations quit or were fired; four later sued the attorney general under the state's whistleblower law. The latest details have emerged in an updated court complaint filed Thursday.
The lawsuit accuses Paxton of abusing his position to help Paul and claims the former deputies have information to suggest Paul "was involved in" the remodelling of a house in an affluent area of Austin, owned by Paxton.
It also claims Paul employed the attorney general's alleged mistress as a construction project manager. Paul gave $25,000 to Paxton's 2018 reelection campaign.
At least one Austin contractor has received a subpoena for records—including receipts, invoices and communications—relating to work on Paxton's home, according to Associated Press. The subpoena calls for the contractor to testify before a grand jury.
Paxton's spokesman denied he acted illegally.
Late last year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fired multiple senior aides who accused him of accepting a bribe. A court filing obtained by The Texas Tribune reveals for the first time what four of those aides believe Paxton received in exchange for helping a donor with his business affairs.
An updated version of a lawsuit filed by the four whistleblowers claims that Austin real estate developer Nate Paul helped Paxton remodel his house and gave a job to a woman with whom Paxton allegedly had an affair.
In return, the aides allege, Paxton used his office to help Paul’s business interests, investigate Paul’s adversaries and help settle a lawsuit. The claims in the filing provide even more details about what the former aides believe Paxton’s motivations were in what they describe as a “bizarre, obsessive use of power.”
“Some of Paxton’s actions directing the [Office of the Attorney General] to benefit Paul were criminal without regard to motive,” the amended petition reads. “Others were so egregious and so contrary to appropriate use of his office, that they could only have been prompted by illicit motives such as a desire to repay debts, pay hush money, or reciprocate favors extended by Paul.”
Four of the aides sued Paxton in November after being fired. James Brickman, David Maxwell, J. Mark Penley and Ryan Vassar, who filed the lawsuit, claim the firings were retaliation for reporting Paxton’s behavior to federal and state law enforcement agencies. They told those authorities that they believed Paxton was abusing his power to help Paul, his friend and political donor, who gave $25,000 to Paxton’s 2018 reelection campaign.
The allegations have reportedly sparked an FBI investigation. Home renovations are part of the criminal investigation, according to the Associated Press. The AP reported Thursday that an Austin contractor had been summoned to testify before a grand jury and provide records related to the work on Paxton’s home.
So fuckin' sick of this shit.
And of course there are asshole Dems - Joe Manchin comes to mind...
...but that really is a different colored horse. Manchin is a barely-principled fence-sitting needle-threader who thinks he can negotiate a deal between decent folk and asshole Nazis, and it all comes out OK cuz there's always a middle ground - the kinda guy who's fucked it up to the point where a disturbingly large percentage of his own constituents are opioid addicts dancing at the edge of starvation and societal collapse.
But he's not out there actually soliciting and collecting bribes - not that we know of - yet.
Anyway, let us turn our attention to Ken Paxton, who, as you may recall, was one of the GOP elected boneheads who thought they'd help Trump hijack the White House.
Paxton's brilliant idea was to bring suit against Pennsylvania over Trump's silly claim of a "rigged election". The court couldn't quite muster the energy to laugh at him, so they just did a face palm and told him to take a flyin' fuck at a rollin' donut.
Newsweek: (pay wall, with a few freebies)
The FBI is reportedly widening its investigation into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after new details in claims by former staffers that he helped a real estate developer in return for renovations to his million-dollar home and a job for his alleged mistress.
Last fall, a number of senior staffers accused Texas's highest-ranking attorney of committing crimes to assist Nate Paul, later alleging that the developer or companies owned by him had a hand in work done on Paxton's home.
All of those making accusations quit or were fired; four later sued the attorney general under the state's whistleblower law. The latest details have emerged in an updated court complaint filed Thursday.
The lawsuit accuses Paxton of abusing his position to help Paul and claims the former deputies have information to suggest Paul "was involved in" the remodelling of a house in an affluent area of Austin, owned by Paxton.
It also claims Paul employed the attorney general's alleged mistress as a construction project manager. Paul gave $25,000 to Paxton's 2018 reelection campaign.
At least one Austin contractor has received a subpoena for records—including receipts, invoices and communications—relating to work on Paxton's home, according to Associated Press. The subpoena calls for the contractor to testify before a grand jury.
Paxton's spokesman denied he acted illegally.
And about those former aides and employees
Late last year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fired multiple senior aides who accused him of accepting a bribe. A court filing obtained by The Texas Tribune reveals for the first time what four of those aides believe Paxton received in exchange for helping a donor with his business affairs.
An updated version of a lawsuit filed by the four whistleblowers claims that Austin real estate developer Nate Paul helped Paxton remodel his house and gave a job to a woman with whom Paxton allegedly had an affair.
In return, the aides allege, Paxton used his office to help Paul’s business interests, investigate Paul’s adversaries and help settle a lawsuit. The claims in the filing provide even more details about what the former aides believe Paxton’s motivations were in what they describe as a “bizarre, obsessive use of power.”
“Some of Paxton’s actions directing the [Office of the Attorney General] to benefit Paul were criminal without regard to motive,” the amended petition reads. “Others were so egregious and so contrary to appropriate use of his office, that they could only have been prompted by illicit motives such as a desire to repay debts, pay hush money, or reciprocate favors extended by Paul.”
Four of the aides sued Paxton in November after being fired. James Brickman, David Maxwell, J. Mark Penley and Ryan Vassar, who filed the lawsuit, claim the firings were retaliation for reporting Paxton’s behavior to federal and state law enforcement agencies. They told those authorities that they believed Paxton was abusing his power to help Paul, his friend and political donor, who gave $25,000 to Paxton’s 2018 reelection campaign.
The allegations have reportedly sparked an FBI investigation. Home renovations are part of the criminal investigation, according to the Associated Press. The AP reported Thursday that an Austin contractor had been summoned to testify before a grand jury and provide records related to the work on Paxton’s home.
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