Tag Archives: FBI

Abbott and Patrick ask SCOTx to take up Paxton’s whistleblower appeal

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

They sort of have a point, but they should still butt out. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Monday urged the Supreme Court of Texas to take up Attorney General Ken Paxton’s appeal to throw out a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Abbott and Patrick ask SCOTx to take up Paxton’s whistleblower appeal

Deshaun Watson must disclose whether he had sex with 18 massage therapists

Posted on April 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

There’s a headline for you. NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson now will have to answer whether he had sex with 18 additional therapists who came to his defense about his massage habits last year, according to a ruling Tuesday by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Deshaun Watson must disclose whether he had sex with 18 massage therapists

First “Trump Train” lawsuit to proceed

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good news. Today, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas ruled in favor of plaintiffs in Cervini v. Cisneros, the “Texas Trump Train” lawsuit filed against individuals in a convoy of Trump supporters who conspired to mount … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Due diligence”

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just gonna leave this right here. The Browns said they did due diligence before agreeing to give Deshaun Watson a $230 million contract and complete a trade with the Texans. Watson is facing 22 civil suits for sexual harassment … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

First round of Deshaun Watson depositions

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

He hasn’t had much to say so far. Four days after a Harris County grand jury chose not to indict Deshaun Watson, the Texans quarterback answered questions for the first time while under oath in connection to 22 civil lawsuits accusing him … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on First round of Deshaun Watson depositions

Deshaun Watson traded to Cleveland

Posted on March 19, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

He’s someone else’s problem now. The Texans have traded Deshaun Watson to the Browns. The quarterback waived his no-trade clause for Cleveland after initially eliminating the franchise, a person with knowledge of the negotiation said, but Watson reversed his decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

No charges against Deshaun Watson

Posted on March 13, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Good for him, I guess. A Harris County grand jury on Friday declined to indict Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, choosing not to criminally charge him in nine alleged instances of sexual assault or harassment during various private massage appointments, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Deshaun Watson will face some depositions

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A long-awaited update on this case. Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson must undergo depositions in connection to at least some of the 22 misconduct allegations made against him before April, a judge on Monday ordered. Lawyers involved in civil litigation … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Deshaun Watson will face some depositions

I regret to inform you that Ken Paxton may not be an honest broker

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

You should maybe be sitting down for this. The whistleblowers who sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after he fired them for accusing him of bribery and abuse of office are speaking out against him publicly for the first time … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Here comes that AstroWorld task force

Posted on February 12, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Got to admit, I had thought this had already happened. Three months after 10 people were killed at the Astroworld Festival at NRG Park, Houston and Harris County have named a 10-person task force to review procedures, permitting and guidelines … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Here comes that AstroWorld task force

FBI seeks Astroworld info

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Spill ’em if you got ’em. The FBI has created a website that seeks information on the deadly Astroworld Festival, the Houston Police Department said Friday. Members of the public can upload photos and video from the Nov. 5 event … Continue reading →

Posted in Elsewhere in Houston | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on FBI seeks Astroworld info

Paxton asks Supreme Court to toss that pesky whistleblower lawsuit

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Same argument, different court. Either Ken Paxton can be held accountable, or he gets a free pass to do whatever he wants. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to toss out a whistleblower lawsuit by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton asks Supreme Court to toss that pesky whistleblower lawsuit

It would seem that the San Marcos Police Department has some major problems

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Geez. The city of San Marcos admits in new court documents to text exchanges among its police officers about the Joe Biden bus incident in October 2020. But it denies what it calls a “characterization” of the exchanges by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It would seem that the San Marcos Police Department has some major problems

Indictments and guilty pleas in FBI investigation of former HISD officials

Posted on December 18, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Woof. A former top Houston ISD official and vendor were indicted Thursday in connection with an alleged bribery scheme over the last decade that federal prosecutors estimate cost the district millions of dollars and resulted in plea agreements with at … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, School days | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Deshaun Watson not traded

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

He’s still with the Texans at least though the end of the year. If quarterback Deshaun Watson had been able to settle the 22 civil lawsuits before the NFL’s trade deadline on Tuesday, he would be leaving Houston for Miami, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trump Train lawsuit update

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

San Marcos Police Department, wyd? As supporters of then-President Donald Trump surrounded and harassed a Joe Biden campaign bus on a Central Texas highway last year, San Marcos police officials and 911 dispatchers fielded multiple requests for assistance from Democratic … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Trump Train lawsuit update

A brief meditation on the Deshaun Watson situation

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Let us pause for a moment and contemplate this John McClain column about the likely football fate for the Texans’ soon-to-be-former star quarterback. Deadlines have a way of initiating action, and if the Texans are going to ship quarterback Deshaun … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Third Court rejects Paxton attempt to kill whistleblower lawsuit

Posted on October 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A state appeals court found Thursday that former deputies of Attorney General Ken Paxton who were fired after accusing the Republican official of abusing his office are protected under the state’s whistleblower law, allowing their lawsuit against Paxton to … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Third Court rejects Paxton attempt to kill whistleblower lawsuit

Appeals court appears skeptical about Paxton’s whistleblower defense

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

As well they should be. A panel of Texas 3rd Court of Appeals justices expressed skepticism of an argument from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawyers on Wednesday that he is exempt from the state’s whistleblower act because he’s not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on the Paxton self-exoneration report

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

More and more ridiculous. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office refuses to release the names of the authors or the taxpayer cost of the internal report published Tuesday that concluded that whistleblowers’ accusations that Paxton broke the law were unfounded. … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized!, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stop investigating yourself, you’ll go blind

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

There’s not enough snark on the Internet for this. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Tuesday released an internal report that found that Paxton did not accept bribes and did not misuse his office to benefit his friend and … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FBI involved in Deshaun Watson case

Posted on August 21, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Never a good sign, though there might be a wrinkle in this one. The FBI is looking into sexual assault allegations against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, according to opposing legal parties in the player’s civil court cases. The extent of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FBI looking into Constable “bachelor party sting” mess

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Never a good sign. Federal investigators are probing the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office after several current and former female employees accused superiors of sexually exploiting them during undercover anti-human trafficking operations, a lawyer for the women confirmed Thursday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Suing the “Trump Train”

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A group of people traveling on a President Joe Biden campaign bus on a Texas highway last fall when it was surrounded and followed by former President Donald Trump’s supporters have filed a lawsuit against at least seven people … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Whistleblowers respond to Paxton’s appeal brief

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

That title is a dry way of saying that they basically accused him of lying in his filing to the 3rd Court of Appeals. A group of former top aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reiterated in a court … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Whistleblowers respond to Paxton’s appeal brief

Paxton appeals to 3rd Court to dismiss whistleblower lawsuit

Posted on June 3, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Next stop on the train. In an 85-page brief filed Tuesday with the 3rd Court of Appeals, Paxton’s lawyers argue that under state law, a whistleblower must believe someone has broken the law, but the aides only reported that “they … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What is Ken Paxton hiding?

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

I was almost tempted to start this post with the rhetorical “Just when you think Ken Paxton couldn’t sink any lower” gambit, but then I realized I have never thought Ken Paxton couldn’t sink any lower. Even with that, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What is Ken Paxton hiding?

Paxton whistleblower lawsuit can proceed

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

First step in a long road. The 3rd Court of Appeals on Friday denied a petition from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office to stop a trial court hearing in a suit filed by whistleblowers who claim they were wrongfully … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Please don’t ask us about Ken Paxton

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

A real profile in courage here. As President Joe Biden’s agenda is dealt an early blow in Texas, the embattled Republican attorney general promising more fights ahead with the new administration is getting little public support from members of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized!, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The financial benefit of filing seditious lawsuits

Posted on January 25, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Ladies and gentlemen, your Attorney General: Campaign contributions to embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton all but dried up last fall after senior staff accused the Republican of abusing his office to help a friend and political donor. But Paxton’s fortunes … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 42 Comments

Ken Paxton couldn’t be more on brand if he tried

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

News item: Texas laws protecting whistleblowers don’t apply to Attorney General Ken Paxton, his agency argues in bid to quash lawsuit. Who among us didn’t already know that Ken Paxton doesn’t think the law applies to him? The Texas Attorney … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

On prosecuting the insurrectionists

Posted on January 9, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

This is a good start. While federal prosecutors in the nation’s capital will likely tackle the bulk of criminal charges for the perpetrators of Wednesday’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Ryan K. Patrick is among a growing number of U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Paxton denies whistleblower allegations

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty standard response. The Texas attorney general’s office will pay outside counsel $540 an hour to defend the state agency against accusations that it was retaliating against top aides when it fired them just weeks after they reported their boss, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton denies whistleblower allegations

FBI serves subpoenas in Paxton case

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Quite the timing, no? Federal agents served at least one subpoena Wednesday on the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in an ongoing investigation into allegations that Paxton abused his authority by helping a friend and campaign donor. Three … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on FBI serves subpoenas in Paxton case