The latest Attorney General's Office news from The Texas Tribune.
In an 85-page brief filed Tuesday, the attorney general’s lawyers argue that under state law, a whistleblower must believe someone has broken the law, but the aides only reported that “they expected laws might be violated.” Full Story
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The case was moved to Harris County from Collin County after prosecutors argued that having the trial there would be unfair because of Paxton's political ties in that region. Full Story
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The former president said in a statement Tuesday that he'll issue an endorsement "in the not-so-distant future." Full Story
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In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Land Commissioner George P. Bush about the state of the state and the issues in play as the 2021 session winds down — and about his rumored plans to challenge Ken Paxton in the GOP primary for Texas attorney general. Full Story
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Bush has a unique history with Trump as the only prominent member of his famous political family to back the former president. Meanwhile, Paxton has tightly aligned himself with Trump in recent months. Full Story
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It’s unclear if Paxton has unblocked others on Twitter who were not named in the lawsuit. Full Story
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California banned state-funded travel to Texas because of a 2017 religious-refusal law for adoptions in the state, which critics called discriminatory against LGBTQ families. Full Story
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The lawsuit argues that being blocked from viewing the attorney general's tweets is a violation of the First Amendment because it limits the right of people to participate in a public forum and access Ken Paxton's statements. Full Story
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Bush said the state's top law enforcement official "needs to be above reproach." Full Story
The suit is the latest in a series of legal challenges Paxton has brought against the Biden administration since January. Full Story
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The Texas Tribune joined several other news organizations in an effort to obtain copies of emails and text messages that the Texas attorney general sent or received while in Washington for the rally. Full Story
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Austin and Travis County officials said they would continue to require masks even after Gov. Greg Abbott ended his statewide mandate. Full Story
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Beleaguered Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who attended the pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol siege, issued civil investigative demands to Twitter after the company banned the former president from its platform. Full Story
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A Travis County judge opted to move forward with Monday's hearing without ruling on the motion to dismiss the whistleblower lawsuit. Late Monday night, an appeals court halted the second day of proceedings at the request of the agency's attorney. Full Story
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Griddy claims it billed some customers tens of thousands of dollars due to skyrocketing wholesale electricity prices. Meanwhile, Brazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday calling those price increases "devastating." Full Story
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Ken Paxton's campaign confirms he attended "a previously planned meeting with the Attorney General of Utah to discuss several matters, including strategizing on imminent action in the Google lawsuit." Full Story
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Paxton's legal troubles are increasing in volume, at just about the time an officeholder in his position would be thinking about the next round of elections. Full Story
A court filing documents what Paxton’s whistleblowers believe led to an alleged “bizarre, obsessive use of power.” Full Story
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For the past four years, Texas Republicans have had an ally in the White House. Now they’re readying for the familiar role of conservative counterweight. Full Story
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In a lawsuit, four former Paxton aides claim they were wrongfully terminated for reporting alleged criminal behavior on his part. Paxton’s agency wants a judge to quash subpoenas and depositions, saying that as an elected official Paxton is exempt from state whistleblower protection laws. Full Story
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