Texas AG Ken Paxton hired a former staffer to work on a recent case. As a state employee, her labor would have cost taxpayers $641. As a private attorney, Paxton allowed her to bill $3,780 an hour, so that day of work cost taxpayers $24,570. With @texastribune.org
Ken your time is over!
That’s an insane hourly billing rate.
Paxton has always been a thief and still is. Texas doesn’t even have a system in place to stop the crime. That takes honest people and there are no “honest” people left in the Republican Party.
What a slap on the face to taxpayers! TXresidents need to write letters, eMaī AG, Local state Reps, Congresspersons, Senators, On up the line to Hotwheels(HotWheelsGov). Be involved fighting corruption. TY 4sharing. AG works for you Texans.
😡...
bsky.app/profile/kodi...
Can’t we just give Texas back to Mexico???
After Ted Cruz touched it? Mazal bueno.
they don’t want it
Just asking. How much did she have to give him back?
Hmmmm. Mistress? He hates women.
Bribes? Fascism? Graft? Who knows? But it's not efficiency. It's waste, if not fraud.
While our moral framework is based on harm reduction & fairness, conservatives’ is authority/conformity/belief in a rigid social hierarchy with a shocking capacity for cruelty against designated out-groups. Conservatives are sadistic, undemocratic, liars & cheats. They’re innately unfit to lead.
Let me guess, if I’m a campaign contributor, you can sweep a bunch of tax dollars in my direction? He’s not outsourcing, he’s paying them back.
Talk about the swamp needing to be drained! Wow! 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
The GOP, watching and spending your money so u don’t have to!
He's a criminal! He will be held accountable!
We’re living in the Golden Age - for corruption.
Smash and grab
Corruption in plain sight. Republicans can’t even be bothered to hide it anymore.
This is a corruption Arrest her and take money back
And he is probably getting kickbacks from those people!
I’ve never heard of a lawyer billing at $3,800 an hour.
Everyone in GOP wants in on fleecing of America. 😩
No wonder Texas is called the Lone Star State. The majority of its population scored 1 star out of 10 on IQ tests. Yokels voted Drump and GOP in thinking they would lead them to Jeebus in paradise. Instead, they are getting screwed over by Satan's minions
More evidence that Govt of Emperor Trump is full of conmen & scum, proudly voted into power by fascist Christian Zionists yokels
Texans like being fleeced.
I’m willing to bet quite a lot that the person is well connected and he has gained something from the arrangement.
How does the GOP find soooo many scumbags like this?
Membership requirement.
They pick up rocks and they climb out and then they hire them! Requires them to be dumb as grass and racist!
And as usual, nobody will do anything to stop this
I’m beyond sick of this evil thief abusing his power and stealing from Texans‼️#TexansREVOLT🔥🔥
This is why Texans send jerks to congress. We don’t want them doing shit like this at home.
I wonder how much of that dough came back to Kenny-boy in the form of campaign contributions...
Cool! I’m a physician and earn only a tiny fraction of that, obviously went down the wrong career path!
Waste fraud and corruption the Republicans can’t govern.
Texas State government is one of the most corrupt governments on the planet today.
💯
I think we may have the reason for thevdivorce.
Paxton is a corrupted idiot!
Paxton is a pox on Texas and democracy. bsky.app/profile/mind...
Paxton always had a shady angle
Ken avoided prison once, and is likely so vain he thinks he’s invincible.
Typical Republican: DON'T TAX ME! Meanwhile wasting taxpayers money and pocketing what they can.
A MAGA government is just another name for a MAFIA government
Robbery!
Hey Texans - you ok with this use of your tax dollars?
Yes they are !! As long as the offender has an R next to his name, the majority of Texans will look away. That is a sad reality of Texas.
That’s enormous 😳
The party of corruption, the ANP. American Nazi Party, formerly known as the Republican Party.
The precedent, a criminal as a President, Known for strongly conservative views, Paxton has been described as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump. Paxton was first elected attorney general in 2014, an ally of the Tea Party movement, and described as ultraconservative and far-right.
It's an open swindle.
Too bad they didn't take all that money they could have saved and spent in on something useful, ...say for instance early flash flood warning systems that the GOP leadership of Texas has been purposely avoiding providing for years.
Corruption
Why pay someone to have a career when you can pay them to do your bidding? Right?
He's probably fucking her. Wouldn't be the first...
Given his notorious lack of scruples one must wonder if he is f*ing them while taxpayers are getting screwed.
Does this mean that he is incapable of finding competent people to work for him and has to pay them exorbitant rates to get the job done?
This is probably the woman he's screwing around with and the reason Angela Paxton just filed for divorce.
Well, well, well... I just had the exact same idea...
Me too.
While Texas sucks up the rest of the country's tax money..they got what 70 billion fed money last year
Let bet he slept with her too or at the minimum knew he was cheating on his wife and maintained her silence so he bought off that silence!
Texas AG Ken Paxton's term expires in 2027, is there then any chance of him being removed from office over his egregious use of public money?
That is how privatization works, yes.
It's a ripoff of the taxpayer, and boondoggle for politicians who double dip through businesses that have govt contract work, ex Tom Homan, prisons. They also hire family or friends for a ridiculous compensation amount. It's like the wild west of politics and they are anything but conservative.
Oligarchs are greasing each other’s pockets - waste, fraud, abuse - swamp rats all of them!! Despicable!
Texas deserves it.
Texas Republicans love to take it hard up the ass from their corrupt politicians, because freedom, or something.
And how much of that $24,000+ per day do you suppose got kicked back into his own pockets.
Thank you for showing us once again that ProPublica is still doing real journalism, you may well be the single most respectable journalistic outlet in America today.
MAGA is waste, fraud, and abuse.
So one work day gets her twice what I get from a year's social security.
And how much is he getting back? Follow then no money.
You named my second thought.
Hm. The same Attorney Grifter AG Paxton who used state power to protect his corrupt donor Nate Paul, fire aides who reported him to FBI for bribery, and then had the balls to steal $40M for secret raises? Oh, and sorry Texas — you payed the $3M to whistleblowers he tried to silence.
folks in texass are a special kind of stupid. you're allowing you public officials to rob you blind-
Were they fucking?
EXCUSE ME???? schiff.senate.gov @wyden.senate.gov @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social @aoc.bsky.social @repjasmine.bsky.social @raskin.house.gov @progressdems.bsky.social @sanders.senate.gov @warren.senate.gov @repbonamici.bsky.social
It appears conflict of interest is an issue. Prior to the current lawless administration, there was a 2 year moratorium on doing work in your field after separation from government. It prevented unfair competition for jobs and conflicts of interest. Now it appears there are no ethics at all.
It’s very simple. Most voters in Texas won’t vote for you unless you’re the devil. I lived in Houston and both my neighbors were only interested in voting for people who were about pure evil. I left and haven’t been back. Paxton has the evil eye—malocchio.
Houston is pretty blue though..
No waste, fraud, or abuse here. Nothing to see, get on your way, I told you nothing to see, stop asking about it,...
Culture of corruption
Can you find out if any money went back to him? If it looks bad and smells bad ...
" ... seven of Paxton’s senior advisers reported him to the FBI, concerned his relationship with an Austin real estate investor had crossed the line into bribery and corruption. State House members would later impeach Paxton ... related to the accusations; state senators eventually acquitted him."
So, yeah. There's that. Whatcha' doing, #Texas?
Just another day in Texas!
He must be banging her.
My opinion of texas is the same as florida, arkansas, Alabama, ….. and the rest of the red poor states …. poor children are being educated with clowns and trolls . Uneducated people will vote for a mannequin dressed up as tRUMP.
Who gets the kickbacks?
I’ll never understand how Texans can continue to support one of the most corrupt politicians in this country.
They will continue to do so. Do not be surprised if he wins his next election. His corruption out in the open or his serial adultery as alleged by his soon to be ex-wife won’t matter. …. As long as the opponent is a Democrat Texans will vote for Lucifer himself.🤷🏾♂️
Right wing media has truly successfully demonized any Democrat in the eyes of Republicans for the last 30+years. I unfortunately see it in my own family.🫤
Ittall about owning the libs.
Hatred is a powerful motivator. Republicans figured that out generations ago, so while progressives and liberals squabble over details the entire right is in lockstep to harm all the people they hate.
And right wing media has continued to keep them addicted by pushing outrage porn for the last 30+ years
Indeed. Fox News and talk radio are an essential element of the GOP strategy weaponizing hatred for political gain.
Paxton is well known in Texas, as being corrupt
That shitbag Paxton is probably getting kickbacks, too.
No probably about it..
“allowing her to bill $3,780 an hour” Okay, in what universe is *any* lawyer’s base rate $3,780 an hour? That’s just preposterous—this is beyond the pale. (But Paxton’s not alone—plenty of other sleazy state AG’s are working similar scams.)
That’s lower than Katyal’s base rate that was going around earlier (but only by like $500 lol)
It's outrageous but if I had a case before SCOTUS I'd want Neal Katyal to represent me.
Hey @texasobserver.org @texastribune.org You good with this?
Key word “she.” Is she nice looking? If so, he might have more than one agenda.
They didn't get rid of him with all the other illegal ways he has spent our money. This is just a drop in the bucket.
Always crooked
How to kleptocracy.
I think politicians that steal from the public coffers like this should be whipped in the streets for everyone to see then serve many years in prison.
Lock him up
All about money. Never about what is good for the people (taxpayers).
What private atty gets $3,800/hour?!
An abomination
And this fool wants to be a senator?
I wonder what percentage of the money is going into a slush fund somewhere?
🥺🤔
But the state has one of the highest rates of child suicides.
Go TEXAS! What is wrong with you people down there?
His followers don't care.
Texans love it without lube 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Fuck off. We are not a monolith.
Well, there’s the silver lining in the legislature’s having let Paxton off for fraud and misuse of office: he feels free to continue cheating, so we just might catch him again.
Once again, it seems the waste, fraud, and abuse are coming from the party screaming that the government is filled with waste, fraud, and abuse.
Grifters gonna grift.
How is he not behind bars?
So is he sleeping with her or does she have dirt on him? I’m assuming it’s one of those two because fuck giving these guys any benefit of the doubt.
Abbott uses the states' budget surplus as he pleases. Same for Paxton.
If you vote for Republicans you vote for criminals.
Oh… that’s what she was paid for? “Legal” services? Did that cum with a box of steaks?
Criminal just like Abbott and Patrick.
BOO!!!!!!!!!! Wonder what's going on there????
Wait…lazy too
Was he sleeping with that particular one, and that was the pay for play cost?
Ken Paxton is one sick fuck.
#Texas When are you going to rise up? You could be the spark that leads the country. How much more can your state take?
I know you are. Are the rumors true that Christian Nationalism has really taken over in Texas? That would be a double whammy for the people of Texas. Not only a state government that is corrupt and doesn't care about them but a religion that enslaves.
He is a creep!
They steal whenever they can
He hired her on "biblical grounds."
Just sharing the wealth... it's what the GOP does (at the taxpayer's expense)
Welcome to the oligarchy
WTH,talking about abuse of power.
Planning for his retirement?
But the state doesn’t have money for flood warning systems?
✅✅✅✅✅
Have you listened to the town hall meeting regarding the federal money they received from IRA to upgrade their infrastructure including weather warning systems? It is wild to find out the people in TX. They didn’t want to receive the money for upgrading warning systems. It was considered “socialism
It's the small town magat Hicks who vote him in. They vote against their own interests
She is his "girlfriend "? Sounds like a payoff to me.
Here's a chance to fight back. www.youtube.com/shorts/a3q7Z...
Lock him up already
Texas is a cesspool
How convenient to be a fiscal conservative…
What a fucking crook and a worthless governor for allowing this crap. Texas taxpayers must enjoy flushing money down the toilet, but can’t put warning sirens up that would have prevented the deaths from flooding.
I hope Texas voters will show up in huge turnout to vote Texas AG Paxton out of office! www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/j... Democrat Joe Jaworski to run for attorney general in 2026 | The Texas Tribune
Ok? Great. Better vote blue about it or some dumb shit. We’re fucking pathetic cattle and will allow this sort of thing to happen over and over again
Ahhhh. I see the party of fiscal responsibility strikes again.
Turns out that “fiscal responsibility” only ever meant controlling where the money gets funneled.
That’s problematic, but basically he’s just a bad bad guy. Texans could fix that.
💀
Easier to do unethical shit when ppl who follow the rules don't work for u...
Corrupt politicians enriching friends.
REPUBS and their fight against waste fraud and abuse my ass
A good government for some.
He’s deeply corrupt. Like all Maga.
That’s called #Texan #Republicanism with a swirl of corruption on top.
But you repeat yourself.
And you wonder why his wife has filled for divorce on biblical grounds 🙄
Texas sucks in so many ways! Beginning with the governor on down!
You Texans sure seem to like taking it up the ass. Are you ever going to get rid of that corrupt son of a bitch?
Many of us are trying to - it is mortifying, as a native Texan.
It's bad enough being under this Federal regime. It must really be hard when state and federal is doubled up against you. I wish you well as a blue dot in a sewer of red.
Challenging, for sure. Thank you.
Yeehaw! Texans deserve every single thing these Christo-Fascist Nazis do to them.
Black Texans? Brown Texans? Queer Texans? How about Texans who are children, like many that drowned at that camp? Stop being a fucking ghoul, Jesus Christ.
Start doing something about your shitty state.
No. Nobody deserves all the horrors their legislature is inflicting - especially those who voted against it. And due to gerrymandering, the legislature isn't remotely representative.
Regardless of your beliefs, wishing dire consequences on those who have no say in politics at all - such as kids - is utterly depraved
You always have a say.
Paxton is a shameless crook who should be in jail instead of being State AG.
Possibly if Texas' citizens get rid of the crook Ken Paxton and his giveaways to cronies, Texas will be able to afford the early alert system that would have saved countless lives in the recent floods. Just sayin'.
The Texas Republican Party has instituted P2025 in Texas. Paxton’s grift is approved.
Is he banging her? Was this the “biblical” sin his wife talked about?
MARCH AGAINST TEXAS AG KEN PAXTON!!!! WE THE PEOPLE STAND UNITED AGAINST ABUSE OF POWER💪🏼💪🏽💪🏾💪🏿✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿👊🏼👊🏽👊🏾👊🏿
😡😡😡
But Hey Texas. Nothing stopping YOU from Votin’ for him.
“Privatizing” public sector work is, has been, and always shall be an excuse for business owners to wrap their revenue lips around the teat of never-ending taxpayer dollars.
The right is always costing taxpayers money! And it all goes in their pockets!
He is still corrupt, and an adulterer! His own party in the Texas legislature tried to censure, and impeach him-IT WAS NOT THE DEMOCRATS!! His own wife voted to acquit with overwhelming evidence that he did what was said. Now she’s filed for divorce but she left the Texans no options to remove him
So that it’s “off the books” and protected via privilege, not subject to foia requirements etc.
This isn't another one of his girlfriends is it? Last time he had a rich donor pay for his mistress, now it's Texas taxpayers, yuck.
When you're the law you can make a bundle! Trump taught us that! Republicans are quick learners.
Idaho’s AG is doing this as well. The ADF is essentially our AG office’s temp agency.
The numbers these attorneys are invoicing the state- including $32M in "expenses"- are so high that they don't seem real. I think about how hard I work (for public health!) for an hourly rate that's a tiny fraction of hers- how could her work be so much more valuable?
It isn’t. This is just pure corruption. I’ve never heard of any attorney commanding even close to that amount per hour. I can’t think of any scenario where that fee would pass the smell test, and especially for government work.
Are they fudating
Well maggats should be happy their money is wasted this is what they voted for
Another fkn crook on the tax payer tit
How else is he going to pay his rich donors back?
It's all a grift for them.
The obligatory link for any Ken Paxton post. You're welcome 😂 open.spotify.com/episode/20yA...
I sure could use a gig like that. Too bad I have ethics.
Is she the “biblical reason” his wife filed for divorce?
Corruption
Paxton probably got a cut,too.
I worked with a lawyer at a firm who did work for the Illinois DOT and they had insane outside counsel guidelines and his billing rate for the state was like half his normal rate. This is fraud.
100%. Even if she were allowed to charge her full rate (which, as you said, she shouldn’t), like…I know someone who just worked on a case with a former US Circuit judge who billed $2k an hour. Very hard to think of a universe in which a former TX deputy AG regularly bills almost twice that
That is what a big law partner charges as a rack rate and most people don't pay that.
Yep, exactly
They are all grifters.
$3,780 an hour?!?! You gotta be fucking with us
So Paxton got rid of top lawyers who reported his corruption and rewards those who backed him with lucrative non-competitive contracts. Sounds like Texas.
Are they sleeping on the job?
"Hey neighbor, how was your day?" "Fukkin awesome! I just, with consent, screwed you, the TX taxpayer, over to the tune of around $25,000. Pretty good fukkin day."
That dude is so shady.
Texas rid yourself of this disease Ken Paxton
He's so comically evil you kind of have to respect it
He's sleeping with her.
He is beyond corrupt and he keeps getting away with it
Payment in Kind?
100s drown without a few lousy sirens, & that POS AG pays mistress over $20k to do monkey work? Good luck Texas. Between Paxson, Abbott, Musk, Cruz, etc, y'all better lube. You're about to get fucked again. But hey, Jerry Jones has them Cowboys goin' in the right direction....
A good time to re-post this. bsky.app/profile/pr-g...
Suckers!
Nice work, if you can get it.
Were they sharing a bed as well as taxpayer funding?
That was my first thought
WTAF?
Typical Republican grift. Funnel all taxpayer funds to people you know companies you own.
Repulsive
And a major of Texans will continue to elect these republi-cons.
*majority
