one District Court Judge The $6.6 million was awarded to jointly rule to four whistleblowers that they sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, claiming he fired them for reporting his revenge to the FBI.
Blake Brickman, David Maxwell, Mark Penley and Ryan Vassar notified Paxton and his office on October 1, 2020, saying they had reported him to the FBI, allegedly he abused his office. All four were fired in mid-November.
Travis County Judge Catherine Mauzy ruled Friday that through “a large amount of evidence” the whistleblower proved a complaint against the Attorney General’s office, proving liability, damages and attorney’s fees.
The judgment said the former aide published a report to federal law enforcement “in good faith” and that Paxton’s office did not compensate any claims or damages in the lawsuit.
A judge awarded $6.6 million to four whistleblowers who sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, claiming he reported it to the FBI. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
“The court hereby gives a judgment against the plaintiff because the Attorney General’s Office violated the Texas Whistleblower Act, by reporting on the plaintiff’s attitude towards the plaintiff and otherwise retaliating against the plaintiff in good faith in reporting Ken Paxton and Oger’s violation of the law,” Mauz wrote in the judgment.
The court ruled that four former aides of the attorney general were fired for retaliation charges, saying he was using the office to accept bribes from Austin real estate developer and political donor Nate Paul, who hired a woman from Paxton.
Paxton denied accusing that he had accepted bribes or abused the office to help Paul.
“Chief law enforcement officer Ken Paxton, who should shock all Texans, admitted to breaking the law, but that’s exactly what happened in this case,” Tom Nesbitt, the attorney representing Brickman, said in a joint statement.
The court ruled that four former aides of the Attorney General were fired for retaliation for accusing him of abuse of his post. (Dylan Hollingsworth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Paxton said in a statement that the judge’s ruling was “absurd” and “not based on facts or laws.” He said his office plans to appeal the ruling.
Federal authorities investigated the Attorney General after eight employees reported bribery charges to the FBI in 2020. He agreed to settle the lawsuit for $3.3 million, which would be paid by the Legislature, but the state legislature rejected his request and conducted its own investigation.
Paxton is Bullet House In 2023, he was later acquitted in the Senate.
Dexas Ag Paxton, Texas, accused of all impropriety charges: “The truth prevails”
Paxton said the judge’s ruling was “absurd” and “not based on facts or laws.” (Reuters)
Click here to get the Fox News app
In November, the state Supreme Court overturned a lower ruling asking Paxton to testify in the lawsuit.
this U.S. Department of Justice According to the Associated Press, an investigation of Paxton was refused in the last few weeks of the Biden administration.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
