Investigators have expanded the impeachment inquiry into suspended Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton to probe a multimillion-dollar real estate binge-eating scandal, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
In late May, the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives voted to impeach Paxton on charges of corruption, bribery, obstruction and other charges related to a federal investigation into a property developer with ties to the attorney general. Within months, the Paxton family spent nearly $3.5 million on six different properties: a lodge in Oklahoma, a townhouse in Florida, two rental homes in the Sunshine State, a property in Utah, and a property in Hawaii. rice field. according to to the WSJ.
“General Paxton decided to shift much of his long-term savings from brokerage accounts to real estate,” Paxton’s attorney Tony Busby told the WSJ. “He did it during a time of low interest rates, but he believed it was a better long-term investment to support his family. Nothing more.”
According to the WSJ, Paxton took out another $1.6 million in mortgages to acquire six properties across the country. The Paxton family also owns several mutual funds and his four properties in Texas. (Related: Texas senator barred from voting in husband’s impeachment trial)
According to the WSJ, investigators hired by state legislators said the salaries of the suspended attorney general and his wife, state sen. He said he became suspicious of his family’s multi-million dollar purchases. .
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 1: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks outside the Supreme Court. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Paxton was temporarily removed from office as state supreme attorney pending a Senate vote, making him the third senator to be impeached in Texas.
State Senate Resolution Bill passed on June 21 barred Paxton’s wife from voting in her husband’s impeachment trial on Sept. 5 because of a “conflict of interest,” but would still be required to attend the hearings. . Two-thirds of state senators must vote to permanently remove Paxton from office.
Prior to becoming Attorney General, Paxton served in both houses of the state legislature. according to Go to Ballotpedia. Paxton was first elected to the state legislature in 2014 and secured two reelections in 2018 by a 3.6-point margin and a 9.7-point margin in 2022.
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