AUSTIN — In another legal blow to Ken Paxton, a Travis County judge on Friday ordered the attorney general to answer questions, under oath, from lawyers for four agency executives who were fired in 2020 after accusing Paxton of bribery and other misconduct.

District Judge Jan Soifer ordered Paxton to testify by deposition on Feb. 1, saying the mandate was required because the attorney general’s office had “failed to negotiate in good faith” to schedule testimony by Paxton and several top aides.

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Soifer’s order came one day after Paxton announced that his agency will stop fighting the lawsuit, which argued that the four executives were improperly fired in retaliation for reporting Paxton to the FBI. Paxton said the attorney general’s office would not contest the allegations and would accept whatever damage award Soifer imposed, with payment subject to approval by the Legislature.

Related:Texas AG Ken Paxton tapped campaign for $2.3 million in impeachment legal fees

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Soifer also ordered Paxton’s second-in-command, his chief of staff and a high-ranking adviser to answer questions under oath next month.

The depositions will take place at the Austin offices of Cain & Skarnulis, a law firm that is representing some of the fired employees.

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Brent Webster, Paxton’s chief deputy, was...

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