A Travis County judge has ordered the Texas Attorney General’s office to pay over $6 million to four whistleblowers who were terminated after reporting Ken Paxton to federal authorities. In her ruling, Judge Catherine Mauzy determined that “By a preponderance of the evidence,” the plaintiffs successfully demonstrated liability in their case against the attorney general’s office. “Because the Office of the Attorney General violated the Texas Whistleblower Act by firing and otherwise retaliating against the plaintiff for in good faith reporting violations of law by Ken Paxton and OAG, the court hereby renders judgment for plaintiffs,” Mauzy wrote.
The court determined that Paxton retaliated against the four aides by dismissing them after they reported his alleged misconduct, which involved accepting bribes from Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, who had employed a woman with whom Paxton was reportedly having an extramarital relationship. Paxton has consistently denied these allegations of bribery and misuse of office.
A judge has ruled that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton violated the Texas Whistleblower Act and has ordered his office to pay four former employees $6.6 million.https://t.co/K1mxw7xOkg
— WFAA (@wfaa) April 5, 2025
The judgment noted that the employees’ reports to law enforcement were made “in good faith” and that Paxton’s office did not challenge any of the claims or damages sought in the lawsuit. “It should shock all Texans that their chief law enforcement officer, Ken Paxton, admitted to violating the law, but that is exactly what happened in this case,” stated Tom Nesbitt, Blake Brickman’s attorney, and TJ Turner, David Maxwell’s attorney, in a joint statement. Responding to the verdict, Paxton issued a statement describing the ruling as “ridiculous” and “not based on the facts or the law,” indicating his office’s intention to appeal.
The case stems from a 2020 incident where eight employees reported Paxton to the FBI over bribery allegations. While Paxton attempted to settle the lawsuit for $3.3 million through legislative funding, the House declined, launched its own investigation, and subsequently impeached him in 2023, though he was later acquitted by the Senate. Last November, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s decision that would have required Paxton to testify in the lawsuit.
A judge ordered Texas AG Ken Paxton's office to pay $6.6M for violating the Texas Whistleblower Act. https://t.co/8PXJ3WeoUK
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According to two sources who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press about internal deliberations, the U.S. Justice Department opted not to pursue its investigation into Paxton during the final weeks of the Biden administration.
