Texas AG Ken Paxton makes deal to avoid felony securities trial

[former9thward]

Source: Washington Post

HOUSTON — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), a conservative firebrand acquitted last year in a historic impeachment trial, has reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid trial on long-standing state felony securities fraud charges.

Paxton was charged nearly a decade ago, accused of defrauding investors at a Dallas-area tech company by not disclosing that he was paid by the company to recruit them. The case has been delayed for years by pretrial disputes over the trial’s location and special prosecutors’ fees.

Under the agreement reached in Harris County district court on Tuesday, prosecutors would dismiss felony charges against Paxton if he successfully completes community service and advanced legal education classes and pays restitution of about $300,000. He had previously pleaded not guilty.

Paxton, 61, did not have to formally enter a plea or testify Tuesday. (He also declined to testify during his impeachment trial.) He had faced up to 99 years in prison if convicted, as well as disqualification from holding state office.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/03/26/ken-paxton-deal-texas-securities-charges/

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I see this is a duplication. I have tried to self-delete but nothing happens. Maybe the admins can delete.

[BOSSHOG]

1. The glory of conservative values

[Lonestarblue]

2. The value of conservative judges.

[BOSSHOG]

4. So much criminal value in conservatism

They are a sight to behold.

[Traildogbob]

6. Perfect

And that Goul McConnell has spent decades corrupting the courts. He has done more to destroy this country than any human. He could have ended Trump. But the courts are his making.
If that goul ever gets to lie in state in our damn house, after his body deteriorates and decomposes enough they can’t prop him up at a podium anymore, it will be a disgrace to every soldier that ever served this country.
But, we may never have ownership of any building for the people if the lunituc gets appointed to DICKtator, with help from the GQP courts to take the nation down.
Total immunity is already here, forget the SC ruling to come. GQP get total immunity under their courts.

[LeftInTX]

8. Democratic judge in a state trial. She is elected by the people of Harris County. McConnell ain't involved.

[Traildogbob]

10. Speaking of the courts as a whole across the nation,

And the Supreme Court.
And the Ho anti abortion war is a good example.
But there is nothing resembling Justice by the Dem judge in Texas with Paxton. Decades under investigation.
And forgive me for not having confidence in the “people” of Texas right now and the people that have been put in charge.

[LeftInTX]

12. Yes. Also the prosecutors are involved, not just the judge. Since this case has had numerous changes of venue,

they may be from another county themselves. They may be GOP. The prosecutors likely have more power in this case than the judge. The judge just assures that both parties agree to the settlement.

[Traildogbob]

16. Paxton's consequences started to go away

When the Texas Senate scrubbed the charges six months ago. The corruption in favor of the wealthy goes really deep.
I know nothing of the particular facts this Harris County judge knew, yet we are constantly seeing judges across the nation giving free passes to rich white colored criminals. So I just jumped to a conclusion. Hard not to.
I just voted a few weeks ago, and NO judge on the ballot had a D or an R attached. So many good intention people vote blind for them.
But the most corrupt are appointed by a President and confirmed by senate. (Groomed by billionaire interest groups)
I should not broad brush this judge, but damn everyday we see justice fail the rest of us, by elected Judges. And more so with appointed ones.
People like trump, Paxton and Rick Scott get rich from it.
Hell Scott was convicted of the biggest fraud case in history, THEN got elected Gov and NOW is a Senator hell bent on ending SS and Medicare. Thinking Willy and Martha think these fools should pays taxes and serve time for illegal insider trading.
Apologies to Texas Dems, meant bi disrespect.
Hell my district gave the world Meadows and Cawthorn. And let’s not discuss the GQO Gov Ticket here in NC. Dems gave no voice, we get scrubbed ourselves.

[LeftInTX]

18. The prosecutors in this case are special prosecutors: criminal defense attorneys.

Because this is a deal, the judge really isn't too much involved. I guess it's her job to make sure that all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed. I was just pointing out that McConnell was not involved. Judges take a back seat during a plea deal.

[Traildogbob]

20. Thank you

For informing me. Too easy to see “Judge Denies or dismisses” anything when known criminals are involved to jump to a partisan opinion.
We’ve been left with so many scares.

[LeftInTX]

21. Paxton has to pay back his victims. (I know. I know. We wanted him locked up. We wanted his license revoked)

Statement by the prosecutor:

Wice said he had been “besieged by a torrent of phone calls” from people who have “expressed their monumental displeasure with the fact that these cases are being resolved with a pretrial intervention.” Touting the restitution Paxton now owes to his alleged victims, Wice said it was more important to secure justice for them than to pursue prison time for Paxton, which he said should only be a priority if the defendant presents a threat to public safety.

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/25/ken-paxton-plea-deal-securities-fraud-felony/

He should have at least had his license revoked. Then, he would be out of office. I agree, he isn't really a threat to public safety, but he should not be in office. Beall was a good judge. She was the judge who finally put it on the docket. She didn't issue a bunch of delays. She was fairly new to the case.

[Traildogbob]

23. Excellent explanation

I am now factually informed. As we all should strive to be. Lots of judges may be harshly attached to the prejudice out in the open by the likes of Cannon.
Cheers to you. And thank you.

[Dustlawyer]

28. Still BS. 10 year delay over special counsel fees and venue is total BS!

Our top law enforcement officer cops a plea and keeps his job. This is so dirty.

[LeftInTX]

29. That's true, but it isn't this judge's fault. She's the one who finally put the trial on the docket.

People are also blaming McConnell. Once again, McConnell has nothing to do with this.

[Dustlawyer]

30. Yes, Turtlehead had nothing to do with this.

[LeftInTX]

7. The District Judge in this Harris County trial is a Democrat

https://andreabeallforjudge.com/

I'm not sure about the prosecutor, because the case has been moved around so much. Prosecutor may be from another county.

[TxGuitar]

17. Brian Wice was the special prosecutor

who is well- thought of in the legal community. He provides legal commentary on MSNBC sometimes. Also, the other prosecutors were extremely well known lawyers in the state- Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin.

[LeftInTX]

19. Thx....

[Voltaire2]

3. More special treatment.

[dlk]

5. Given the circumstances, this was a slap on the wrist

Paxton is too far off the deep end to be an effective leader and should have been disqualified from ever holding public office again. One hand washes the other.

[onetexan]

22. $300k vs 99 years? it's clear he wants to avoid jail time and the conservative idiots will allow him to get away with it

The slap on the wrist fine will probably comes from dark money source anywaze so it's no skin off his nose.

[Paladin]

9. Don't you love the slack that's being cut for right-wing douchebags?

And brace yourself for another shitty birth control opinion from the Supreme Court.

Time to hit the streets, folks.

[moniss]

11. Delayed for 10 years

while they fought about venue and legal fees. The justice system for the powerful. At their service as usual.

[Miguelito Loveless]

13. Yet again, the wealthy walk

[Pas-de-Calais]

14. Bovine Excretement! Throw his arse in jail

[republianmushroom]

15. He delayed it long enough.

As per the trump handbook. Delay it enough and it will go away.
And justice for all.

[bluestateboomer]

24. Oh the Irony..

An Attorney General needs to take an advanced legal education class.

[underpants]

26. That's rich 😆

[cstanleytech]

25. I'm picturing a giant broom with a shag rug.

[Grins]

27. Translation: The state caved.

So sick of this.