Lawmakers must ask: Why should taxpayers bail AG Ken Paxton out on this screw-up? Opinion [View all]
It sometimes seems that there is no check on Attorney General Ken Paxtons malfeasance and ineptitude.
So, we were heartened to see House Speaker Dade Phelan declare that Paxton would have to justify to the Legislature why taxpayers should cover a settlement with former Paxton employees who allege the attorney general retaliated against them for reporting bribery allegations against him.
In the end, the state is probably going to cough up the $3.3 million. Its an employment case against the agency, not against Paxton personally. But if it opens the door to some real legislative oversight over Paxtons tenure, itll be worth every penny.
If you cant keep track of the myriad Paxton scandals, we dont blame you. In this case, the McKinney Republican fired four top deputies who were part of a group that went to law enforcement with allegations of abuse of office. They contended that Paxton acted to help a campaign donor and a woman with whom he was having an affair. Paxton has denied the claims.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/lawmakers-must-ask-why-taxpayers-112700361.html