Tag Archives: special prosecutor

Paxton officially reindicted

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The judge in AG Ken Paxton’s securities fraud case approved the amended indictments that were most recently filed against him. The two first-degree felony indictments alleging securities fraud delete the amount of shares of Servergy Inc. stock that Paxton was … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton officially reindicted

Paxton remains under indictment

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Kenny. A state district judge on Friday rejected Ken Paxton’s request to throw out his three felony indictments, likely sending the first-term attorney general to trial next year unless his lawyers appeal the ruling. “Yes, all the motions we … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Judge from Paxton grand jury hearing has his say

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Time for more popcorn. Once upon a time, Ken Paxton and Chris Oldner were political allies, dinner companions, and perhaps, even friends. Not any more, though. In legal filings and court hearings, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s legal team has taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Paxton’s first day in court

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And they’re off! Clashing at a pretrial hearing Tuesday, lawyers for Attorney General Ken Paxton dismissed the criminal case against him as the result of a “rogue prosecution,” while prosecutors accused Paxton of relying on “nonsense” arguments and a string … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ethics Commission backs off on letting others pay Paxton’s legal bills

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Sorry, Kenny. State regulators punted Monday on guidance that would clear the way for recently-indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton to accept money as a gift from out-of-state donors to finance his legal defense of felony securities fraud charges. After a … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Ethics Commission backs off on letting others pay Paxton’s legal bills

Paxton can get others to pay his legal bills

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s Christmas in November for our felonious Attorney General. Texas’ ethics regulator has carved a path for Attorney General Ken Paxton to tap out-of-state donors to pay his legal tab to defend against felony fraud charges. The Texas Ethics Commission, … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton can get others to pay his legal bills

Paxton fires back at prosecutors

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Incoming! Lawyers in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s ongoing securities fraud case have fired back against special prosecutors in the latest in a series of back-and-forth court filings. In their Thursday filing, Paxton’s attorneys called the prosecutors’ reply to their motions … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton fires back at prosecutors

Perry’s day at the CCA

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Now we wait to see if he comes out of this a free man or a man still under one or more indictments. Lawyers for former Gov. Rick Perry fought Wednesday before the highest criminal court in Texas to finish … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ken Paxton says Ken Paxton’s arrest video can’t be released

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

How convenient. I looked into the unusual situation in which the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was asked to rule on its boss. Here’s what happened. Media organizations requested the video of Paxton’s recent booking into the Collin … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ken Paxton says Ken Paxton’s arrest video can’t be released

More prosecution responses to Paxton

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Keep ’em coming, y’all. Prosecutors in the criminal case against Attorney General Ken Paxton defended themselves in a court filing Tuesday, calling accusations of misconduct leveled by defense lawyers a gratuitous ploy to direct attention away from Paxton’s felony indictments. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More prosecution responses to Paxton

Prosecution responds to Paxton’s motions to quash

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

They’re pretty harsh. In a 19-page court filing peppered with disdain — one footnote likens Paxton’s defense to an exchange from the 1978 film Animal House — the prosecutors called the attorney general’s legal arguments this week that the judge … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Prosecution responds to Paxton’s motions to quash

Paxton moves to dismiss the charges against him

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

To be expected. [Ken] Paxton’s legal team announced late Monday it had filed six motions to quash the three indictments against him, citing problems with the grand jury process. They also raised other objections to the case in four pretrial … Continue reading →

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

Perry appeal briefs

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The latest update on the appeals before the CCA in the Rick Perry matter. The 3rd Court of Appeals this summer tossed one of two counts against Perry, saying the coercion law underlying it violates the First Amendment. The 3rd … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton will get his hands on grand jury info

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Score one for Team Paxton. A district judge ruled Friday to grant information related to the selection of Collin County grand juries to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s defense team. The ruling by District Judge George Galllagher came over objections by … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton will get his hands on grand jury info

What is coercion, anyway?

Posted on October 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It could be the defining legacy of Rick Perry’s career, depending on how things go in the courts. The coercion law has been used only sparingly in Texas, according to records for the past five years, and some legal experts … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What is coercion, anyway?

Not so fast with those subpoenas

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The special prosecutors in the Paxton case respond forcefully to his legal team’s grand jury-related subpoenas. Special prosecutors in Ken Paxton’s felony securities fraud case are seeking to quash subpoenas his lawyers filed last week seeking information about the grand … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Not so fast with those subpoenas

CCA will hear appeals of Perry’s indictments

Posted on October 9, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday granted requests by both Perry and the Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney to determine whether the indictment against Perry should stand. The court set oral arguments for Nov. 4. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Paxton seeks grand jury information

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ken Paxton’s legal team has filed five subpoenas seeking more information relating to the grand jury that indicted him. The defense seeks a complete transcript and audio recording related to the selection of the grand jurors who indicted him. […] … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why Ken Paxton isn’t going anywhere

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s as simple as one: In a rare public appearance since his indictment in late July, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton made an appeal for more Christian involvement in politics as he addressed the congregation at First Baptist Grapevine on … Continue reading →

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

No way to run a road bond election

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Am I a bad person for being unreasonably amused by this? A special prosecutor has been assigned to determine whether behind-the-scenes negotiations could void a last-minute deal struck by Montgomery County commissioners to get a scaled-back $270 million road bond … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Still more on Paxton

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer takes a deeper dive into the dirty life and times of Ken Paxton. When Paxton was elected to the Texas House in 2002, his yearly personal financial disclosure form was essentially a blank slate, listing little more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still more on Paxton

Paxton the political advisor

Posted on September 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. The former CEO of the technology firm tied to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s securities fraud indictment told investigators he paid the then-lawmaker to provide information on how to market his product to government agencies, according to a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton the political advisor

Perry’s pathetic pity party

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

There isn’t a violin small enough. Rick Perry blamed his criminal indictment and exclusion from the Republican debate mainstage for his failed presidential bid in his first interview since suspending his presidential campaign on Friday. “The indictment by the Travis … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Still working out Paxton prosecution costs

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Collin County is still hoping to do this on the cheap. Collin County officials expect to budget $100,000 to prosecute Attorney General Ken Paxton, but hope to eventually slash that amount by two-thirds. The county Commissioners Court on Monday evening … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still working out Paxton prosecution costs

Paxton hires new attorneys

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s see if he can keep them. Facing a high-profile securities fraud trial that could cost him his job and land him in prison, Attorney General Ken Paxton has enlisted the help of two top defense lawyers known for their … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton hires new attorneys

CCA gets ready to deal with Rick Perry

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The action never stops. The next move in the felony case against Rick Perry belongs to the state’s highest criminal court, which will decide as early as mid-September whether to accept or reject two appeals in the case. The Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

How much would you pay to prosecute Ken Paxton?

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever your answer, Collin County Commissioners Court wants to pay less. Collin County officials want to cap the cost of prosecuting Attorney General Ken Paxton at a fraction of the previously discussed price tag of $285,000, and are questioning whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

State files its appeal of Perry indictment dismissal

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It’s official. State Prosecuting Attorney Lisa McMinn on Friday asked the state’s highest criminal court to reverse the decision by the Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals, which tossed out the charge that Perry coerced a public servant when he tried … Continue reading →

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

Paxton’s first day in court

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

It was a little weird. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday pleaded not guilty to violating state securities laws, while also telling the judge presiding over his felony case that he currently does not have an attorney. Joe Kendall, … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Paxton asks to be excused from contempt hearing

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

He promises he’s been a good boy, so can he please come out of time out now? Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office says he shouldn’t face a contempt hearing for failing to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Paxton asks to be excused from contempt hearing

Poll suggests Republicans don’t support Paxton

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

That’s gotta sting. A poll of likely Republican voters in Texas found that 62 percent believe Attorney General Ken Paxton should resign in the wake of his indictment on alleged securities-law violations, the group that commissioned it said. The poll … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Poll suggests Republicans don’t support Paxton

Paxton reindicted

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

On the same charges, with slightly different wording. After re-filing indictments against Attorney General Ken Paxton in his securities fraud case, two special prosecutors are pushing back against criticism from Paxton’s attorney, who says the recent action shows that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perry appeals his other indictment

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

More for the CCA to deal with. Lawyers for former Gov. Rick Perry are urging the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to finish off the remaining charge in his indictment, ratcheting up their push to end the case against the … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Perry appeals his other indictment

On succeeding, and defending, Ken Paxton

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Ross Ramsay: While Ken Paxton fights to avoid convictions and jail time on indictments alleging securities violations — and to keep his job as Texas attorney general — a muted and unofficial conversation about who will succeed him is already … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments