{"id":2420339,"date":"2025-04-05T16:47:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-05T20:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-wrongfully-fired-whistleblowers-judge-rules-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-04-05T16:48:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-05T20:48:31","slug":"texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-wrongfully-fired-whistleblowers-judge-rules-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-wrongfully-fired-whistleblowers-judge-rules-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrongfully fired whistleblowers, judge rules &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftexas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-wrongfully-fired-whistleblowers-judge-rules-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2420339&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Texas district court judge has ruled that Attorney General ken Paxton wrongfully fired four whistleblowers, awarding them over $6 million in damages. The plaintiffs were dismissed shortly after they reported Paxton to the FBI for alleged misconduct,including accepting bribes from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-donors-back-efforts-to-recall-calif-gov-newsom\/\" title=\"Trump donors back efforts to recall Calif. Gov. Newsom\">real estate developer<\/a> with whom he had an extramarital affair. Judge Catherine Mauzy stated that the evidence supported the plaintiffs\u2019 claims that the Attorney General&#8217;s office violated the Texas Whistleblower Act by retaliating against them for their reports. The court concluded that the whistleblowers acted in good faith and that Paxton did not contest the lawsuit&#8217;s damage claims. Following a lengthy legal battle, Paxton eventually admitted to breaking the law, even though he has faced further investigations and was impeached by the Texas House in 2023, although he was later acquitted in the Senate.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrongfully fired whistleblowers, judge rules<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2083634\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A district court judge has awarded more than $6 million combined to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ken-paxton-deposition-denied-texas-supreme-court-8cb8959154d3a5704f5d52a652935018\">four whistleblowers<\/a>&nbsp;in their lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who were fired shortly after they reported him to the FBI.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By a preponderance of the evidence,&rdquo; Travis County Judge Catherine Mauzy says in her judgment, the plaintiffs proved liability, damages and attorney&rsquo;s fees in their complaint against the attorney general&rsquo;s office.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3370284\/virginia-governor-race-winsome-earle-sears-primary-challenger\/\">Why a GOP primary challenge is upending Virginia&rsquo;s governor race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3369237\/conservatives-turn-to-pennsylvania-supreme-court-after-wisconsin-loss\/\">Conservatives turn to Pennsylvania Supreme Court after Wisconsin loss<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3369109\/dan-osborn-fear-billionaire-takeover-senate-run\/\">Osborn invokes fear of billionaire takeover in bid for support for second Senate run<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Because the Office of the Attorney General violated the Texas Whistleblower Act by firing and otherwise retaliating against the plaintiff for in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">good faith reporting violations<\/a> of law by Ken Paxton and OAG, the court hereby renders judgment for plaintiffs,&rdquo; Mauzy states.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3315975\/doge-doing-across-federal-government\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The court found that the former employees&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/business-ken-paxton-lawsuits-crime-austin-37b02b4f9ab93ed6d39c911f70e70210\">were fired in retaliation for reporting allegations<\/a>&nbsp;that Paxton was his using his office to accept bribes from an Austin real estate developer who employed a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair.<\/p>\n<p>The judgment also stated that the employees made their reports to law enforcement &ldquo;in good faith&rdquo; and that Paxton&rsquo;s office did not dispute any claims or damages in the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;After litigating for more than four years due to OAG&rsquo;s many delay tactics, Ken Paxton finally admitted to breaking the law to avoid being questioned under oath, but also because he had no defense,&rdquo; said Tom Nesbitt, an attorney for plaintiff Blake Brickman and TJ Turner, an attorney for David Maxwell, in a joint statement. &ldquo;It should shock all Texans that their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/read-it-29-sheriffs-promise-to-safeguard-second-amendment-as-biden-cracks-down-on-gun-rights\/\" title=\"READ IT: 29 Sheriffs Promise To Safeguard Second Amendment As Biden Cracks Down On Gun Rights\">chief law enforcement officer<\/a>, Ken Paxton, admitted to violating the law, but that is exactly what happened in this case.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Office of the Texas Attorney General did not respond to an email requesting comment.<\/p>\n<p>Paxton was at center of federal investigation after eight employees reported his office to the FBI in 2020 for bribery allegations. He agreed to settle the lawsuit for $3.3 million that would be paid by the Legislature. However, the House rejected his request and conducted its own investigation and impeached Paxton in 2023. He was&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ken-paxton-impeachment-texas-871fb9c57b38fbda5bec5c2e5f280755\">later acquitted in the Senate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3355854\/trump-tailored-threats-maintain-control\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HOW TRUMP IS DEPLOYING &lsquo;TAILORED&rsquo; THREATS TO TIGHTEN HIS GRIP ON POWER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In November, the Texas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ken-paxton-deposition-denied-texas-supreme-court-8cb8959154d3a5704f5d52a652935018\">overturned<\/a>&nbsp;a lower-court ruling that Paxton testify in the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Justice Department&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/ken-paxton-ag-federal-investigation-justice-department-b4c3469a90f1c546dcb69177c432a383\">decided not to pursue its investigation<\/a>&nbsp;into Paxton in the final weeks of the Biden administration, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2083634\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2083634\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Texas AG Ken Paxton unlawfully fired whistleblowers, judge rules<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2634,"featured_media":2420340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/KP.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32116,33740,38244,3694,50644],"class_list":["post-2420339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-attorney-general","tag-court-ruling","tag-ken-paxton","tag-texas","tag-whistleblowers-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/KP.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2420339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2634"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2420339"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2420339\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2420343,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2420339\/revisions\/2420343"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2420340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2420339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2420339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2420339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}