POLITICS

Ken Paxton through the years

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, second from right, talks with his defense attorneys Philip Hilder, from left, Dan Cogdell, and Anthony Osso, Jr., after Paxton appeared in the 185th District Court for a hearing in his securities fraud case, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the Harris County criminal courthouse in Houston. A judge on Friday rejected Paxton’s attempts to throw out felony securities fraud charges that have shadowed the Republican for nearly a decade. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, second from right, talks with his defense attorneys Philip Hilder, from left, Dan Cogdell, and Anthony Osso, Jr., after Paxton appeared in the 185th District Court for a hearing in his securities fraud case, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the Harris County criminal courthouse in Houston. A judge on Friday rejected Paxton’s attempts to throw out felony securities fraud charges that have shadowed the Republican for nearly a decade. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle Via AP
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to supporters as he supports Tom Glass in his campaign for Texas State Representative District 17 at Film Alley in Bastrop on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to supporters as he supports Tom Glass in his campaign for Texas State Representative District 17 at Film Alley in Bastrop on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.
Mikala Compton/American-Statesman
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, arrives to the 185th District Court for a hearing in his securities fraud case, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the Harris County criminal courthouse in Houston. A judge on Friday rejected Paxton’s attempts to throw out felony securities fraud charges that have shadowed the Republican for nearly a decade. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, arrives to the 185th District Court for a hearing in his securities fraud case, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at the Harris County criminal courthouse in Houston. A judge on Friday rejected Paxton’s attempts to throw out felony securities fraud charges that have shadowed the Republican for nearly a decade. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle Via AP
Attorney General Ken Paxton's attorneys speak at a press conference after Paxton was acquitted of all charges in his impeachment trial at the Texas Capitol on Saturday, Sep. 16, 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton's attorneys speak at a press conference after Paxton was acquitted of all charges in his impeachment trial at the Texas Capitol on Saturday, Sep. 16, 2023.
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (center) sits with his lawyers Tony Buzbee (left) and Dan Cogdell (right) at the beginning of the first day of Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Texas Senate chambers at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. The Texas House, including a majority of its GOP members, voted to impeach Paxton for alleged corruption in May. (Juan Figueroa/Pool via The Dallas Morning News)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (center) sits with his lawyers Tony Buzbee (left) and Dan Cogdell (right) at the beginning of the first day of Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Texas Senate chambers at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. The Texas House, including a majority of its GOP members, voted to impeach Paxton for alleged corruption in May. (Juan Figueroa/Pool via The Dallas Morning News)
Juan Figueroa/Pool Via Dallas Morning News
Attorney General Ken Paxton sits at the defense table before closing arguments in his impeachment trial at the Capitol on Friday September 15, 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton sits at the defense table before closing arguments in his impeachment trial at the Capitol on Friday September 15, 2023.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Ken Paxton arrives on the Senate floor for his impeachment trial Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, at the Capitol in Austin. The trial will determine if the suspended Attorney General will be removed from office.
Ken Paxton arrives on the Senate floor for his impeachment trial Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, at the Capitol in Austin. The trial will determine if the suspended Attorney General will be removed from office.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (center) sits next to attorneys Tony Buzbee (center left) and Dan Cogdell (right) as Texas Sen. Robert Nichols (left), R-Jacksonville, is sworn in during the first day of Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Texas Senate chambers at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. The Texas House, including a majority of its GOP members, voted to impeach Paxton for alleged corruption in May. (Juan Figueroa/Pool via The Dallas Morning News)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (center) sits next to attorneys Tony Buzbee (center left) and Dan Cogdell (right) as Texas Sen. Robert Nichols (left), R-Jacksonville, is sworn in during the first day of Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Texas Senate chambers at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. The Texas House, including a majority of its GOP members, voted to impeach Paxton for alleged corruption in May. (Juan Figueroa/Pool via The Dallas Morning News)
Juan Figueroa/ Pool Via Dallas Morning News
Ken Paxton gives his wife Angela a kiss before the start of his impeachment trial Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, in the Texas Senate at the Capitol in Austin. The trial will determine if the suspended Attorney General will be removed from office.
Ken Paxton gives his wife Angela a kiss before the start of his impeachment trial Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, in the Texas Senate at the Capitol in Austin. The trial will determine if the suspended Attorney General will be removed from office.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Attorney General Ken Paxton arrives at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton arrives at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a news conference at the Price Daniel State Office Building on Friday May 26, 2023.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
State Sen. Angela Paxton, R - McKinney, and her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, listen to a speech in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol on the first day of the 87th Legislature on Tuesday January 12, 2021.
State Sen. Angela Paxton, R - McKinney, and her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, listen to a speech in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol on the first day of the 87th Legislature on Tuesday January 12, 2021.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, with his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, at his side, speaks Jan 6, 2021, in Washington at a "Save America Rally" in support of then-President Donald Trump.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, with his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, at his side, speaks Jan 6, 2021, in Washington at a "Save America Rally" in support of then-President Donald Trump.
Jacquelyn Martin, AP
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Austin Police Association on September 10, 2020.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Austin Police Association on September 10, 2020.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman File
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton smiles while listening to Solicitor General Scott Keller talk about their agency's defense of Trump administration policies in federal courts across the country during an interview at the Price Daniel state office building in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton smiles while listening to Solicitor General Scott Keller talk about their agency's defense of Trump administration policies in federal courts across the country during an interview at the Price Daniel state office building in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018.
NICK WAGNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Austin Police Association on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Austin Police Association on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020.
Jay Janner / American-Statesman
President Donald Trump is greeted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as he arrives on Air Force One at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday November 20, 2019.
President Donald Trump is greeted by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as he arrives on Air Force One at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Wednesday November 20, 2019.
Jay Janner/American-Statesman
In this file photo, US President Donald Trump waves upon arrival, alongside Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton (L) in Dallas, Texas, on June 11, 2020.
In this file photo, US President Donald Trump waves upon arrival, alongside Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton (L) in Dallas, Texas, on June 11, 2020.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP Via Getty Images/TNS
Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a Sept. 10 news conference with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen before signing a "Texas Backs the Blue Pledge" at the Austin Police Association.
Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a Sept. 10 news conference with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, left, and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen before signing a "Texas Backs the Blue Pledge" at the Austin Police Association.
JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces a new unit within his office dedicated to combating human trafficking. The need for long-term and specialized care to treat child sex-trafficking victims is increasing. MARLON SORTO / AHORA SÍ 2016
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces a new unit within his office dedicated to combating human trafficking. The need for long-term and specialized care to treat child sex-trafficking victims is increasing. MARLON SORTO / AHORA SÍ 2016
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is fighting to have his criminal case transferred from Harris County to Collin County. He is accused of securities law violations during private business deals in 2011 and 2012.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is fighting to have his criminal case transferred from Harris County to Collin County. He is accused of securities law violations during private business deals in 2011 and 2012.
Rodolfo Gonzalez/For STATESMAN