After nearly a decade of legal battles, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has reached a settlement to avoid a criminal trial for federal securities fraud charges. In a move sparing him a possible courtroom showdown, Paxton agrees to cough up nearly $300,000 in restitution, clock in 100 hours of community service, and take 15 hours of legal ethics classes.
According to The Daily Wire, Paxton won't need to admit guilt as part of the deal, a fact his lawyer, Dan Cogdell, highlighted by stating, "There is no admission of guilt. There will never be an admission of guilt, because he's not guilty." Meanwhile, special prosecutor Brian Wice focused on the broader implication of the settlement, saying, "Our primary duty is to do justice and not to convict. So a question isn’t whether or not who won, but was justice served?"
Going back to 2015, Paxton faced accusations put forth by a Collin County grand jury that he had misled investors in a McKinney technology company without revealing his financial compensation. The case was delayed and debated for years over venue disputes, as reported by KXAN.
Under the agreement, Paxton can't pull from campaign funds to settle what is essentially a personal debt. The deal maintains a tight leash with prosecutors set to have regular Zoom calls to check in on Paxton’s progress, ensuring that the terms are adhered to.
In a statement obtained by The Daily Wire, Paxton expressed relief, "For over a decade, my family and I have been dealing with the ongoing stress of these accusations and are relieved to finally have a resolution in this matter." However, he reiterated his position, "There will never be a conviction in this case nor am I guilty."
