Below is an excerpt from Politico:
HOUSTON — Prosecutors on Tuesday announced an agreement with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that would ultimately dismiss securities fraud charges he has been facing for nearly a decade.
Under the 18-month pre-trial agreement, the special prosecutors in the case would drop three felony counts against Paxton. As part of the deal, Paxton must pay full restitution to victims — roughly $300,000 — and must also complete 100 hours of community service and 15 hours of legal ethics education.
The resolution lets Paxton avoid a trial, which had been set to begin in less than three weeks on April 15. Paxton was first indicted in 2015 after being accused of duping investors in a tech startup near Dallas before he was elected attorney general. If he had been convicted at trial, Paxton could have been sentenced to life in prison.
The agreement with prosecutors, which lets Paxton remain in his elected position and doesn’t affect his law license, is another huge legal and political victory for one of the nation’s most visible Republican state attorney generals. The end of the case comes six months after Paxton was acquitted of corruption charges in an impeachment trial in the Texas Senate.
Paxton released the following statement:
“For over a decade, my family and I have been dealing with the ongoing stress of these accusations and are relieved to finally have a resolution in this matter. The prosecution came to us to begin negotiations and we were able to come to an agreement on terms. There will never be a conviction in this case nor am I guilty.
“I look forward to putting this behind me. I want to thank my family, team and supporters for sticking by my side. Dealing with a 10-year case looming over our heads was no easy task. I am glad to move on and will provide further comment in the weeks ahead.”
My Statement on The Conclusion of Decade Long Political Prosecution: pic.twitter.com/Rab1ZAxkl8
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) March 26, 2024
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also commented on the case, in a series of social media posts:
Attorney General @KenPaxtonTX has suffered 9 years of political harassment instigated at the hands of his enemies in the Texas House. The actions from the Court in Houston highlighted the lack of any real evidence – the prosecution was wise to save themselves the embarrassment of a courtroom defeat.
This bears a striking similarity to the impeachment debacle where @KenPaxtonTX’s political enemies in the House fabricated a case that collapsed during trial in the Senate. Paxton should get the back pay the House took from him.
This bears a striking similarity to the impeachment debacle where @KenPaxtonTX’s political enemies in the House fabricated a case that collapsed during trial in the Senate. Paxton should get the back pay the House took from him.
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) March 26, 2024
The political hit squad in the Texas House failed again in their persecution of @KenPaxtonTX. The failed impeachment instigated by @DadePhelan backfired. It seems that Dade wound up impeaching himself and several of his top House lieutenants and the voters in his own district have found him guilty.
The political hit squad in the Texas House failed again in their persecution of @KenPaxtonTX. The failed impeachment instigated by @DadePhelan backfired. It seems that Dade wound up impeaching himself and several of his top House lieutenants and the voters in his own district…
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) March 26, 2024
Texas AG Ken Paxton reaches deal to end securities fraud charges after 9 years https://t.co/0HqsFtoijI
— POLITICO (@politico) March 26, 2024
The post NEWS ALERT: Texas AG Ken Paxton reaches deal to end securities fraud charges after 9 years appeared first on Dennis Michael Lynch.
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