Paxton refused to defend the Texas Ethics Commission against lawsuits from a group tied to his biggest donors
When Empower Texans, part of the Tim Dunn and Wilks family political network, sued to strip the Texas Ethics Commission of its core oversight powers, Paxton declined to defend the state agency, which spent about $600,000 on private lawyers. Dunn, the Wilks family and their groups had given Paxton more than $2.85 million.
What happened
Paxton declined to defend the Texas Ethics Commission in an Empower Texans lawsuit seeking to strip its campaign-finance oversight powers; the commission spent about $600,000 on private lawyers in 2018. His office also did not represent the commission in a second Empower Texans suit over a lobbyist-registration fine. 01
Empower Texans was part of the Tim Dunn and Wilks family network. Dunn, the Wilks family and affiliated groups had given Paxton more than $2.85 million since 2002, or over $4.65 million counting two loans. 01
Why it matters
The attorney general is the state’s lawyer. Paxton left the ethics watchdog to hire its own lawyers when it was sued by a group tied to the donors who had given him millions. 01
Timeline
- Paxton declines to defend the state ethics watchdog against a group tied to his biggest donors
What the sources show
The Texas Tribune documented both the refusals and the donations; it did not establish that the donations caused the decisions. 01
Paxton’s response
We found no public explanation from Paxton for declining to defend the commission. 01
Sources
- 01Ken Paxton’s far-right billionaire backers are fighting hard to save himThe Texas Tribune · July 24, 2023
Updates and corrections
- Case file published.