Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called a press conference to attack Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico about supposedly not being tough enough on crime. Instead, reporters wanted answers about Paxton.
30 seconds after it was over, he regretted the entire event. Immediately.
The first question was simple.
“I want ask you about the report in the New York Times about your acquiring properties.”
In other words: How did a public official making $153,000 a year as Texas attorney general end up owning what now appears to be at least 15 properties worth around $9 million?
According to newly reported property records from The New York Times, Paxton, his blind trust and another family trust now own at least 15 properties, in five states, including three luxury Utah condominiums purchased earlier this year for a combined $1.6 million.
From the NY Times:
For several years, Mr. Paxton did not list many of the properties owned by his blind trust on his required state financial statements, saying the disclosure rules were unclear. In 2024, state ethics regulators clarified the rules to require more explicit disclosures of properties owned by blind trusts on annual financial reports filed by elected officials. After that, Mr. Paxton listed interests in eight properties.
The locations were redacted at Mr. Paxton’s request in his disclosures, but local property records showed they spanned six states and range from modest rentals to vacation homes. Ten of the 15 were purchased in the last six years.
Before Paxton could respond, he cut the reporter off.
“Can we keep this to law enforcement?”
At this point, the reporter failed to mention that this, indeed, about law enforcement – enforcing the law against Ken Paxton.
“Will you answer a question about why you voted in Collin County? Clear that up?”
Paxton shook his head.
This is about an allegation that Ken Paxton has been voting from the wrong address, despite making election integrity a centerpiece of his political career.
According to reports, Paxton continued voting in Collin County after his wife’s divorce filing stated he had moved out of their shared home, while evidence linked him to a residence in neighboring Denton County.
Three election lawyers told the news organizations that he may have violated the same Texas residency laws his office has aggressively enforced against other voters.
After this question, his aide immediately intervened, insisting they would only take questions about law enforcement.
Moments later, as another reporter tried to ask a question, the aide waved everyone off.
She literally said to the reporters, “We’re going to get out of here. We’re going to get out of here,” and then he took off, leaving the sheriffs he used for props just standing there.
But the damage was done.
Paxton’s press conference called to whip up false accusations against squeaky-clean Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico completely backfired.
Thank you, to these reporters, for asking him the questions he deserves to be asked!
Like these reporters, we REFUSE to play by these fascists’ rules. We refuse to only ask the questions they want to hear. In fact, we are now inspired to push HARDER to hold them accountable.
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— Ben
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