Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has agreed to pay four agency whistleblowers a $3.3 million settlement and will apologize for referring to them as "rogue employees," according to a tentative settlement agreement filed with the state Supreme Court on Friday.
Taxpayer money will likely be used to pay the settlement because the suit was against the Office of the Attorney General. According to a "mediated settlement agreement" obtained by the American-Statesman, the deal is contingent on "necessary approvals for funding." It is possible the Legislature might have to approve a funding request for the settlement.
The settlement would bring to closure a tumultuous chapter for Paxton and the agency that generated national headlines. It began in 2020 when his top lieutenants went to the FBI to allege a series of potential crimes by their boss involving a wealthy Austin donor. Paxton has said that they were disgruntled employees and that some were facing internal disciplinary action at the time, and he weathered the issue last year, getting elected to a third term.
Paxton said in a statement: "After over two years of litigating with four ex-staffers who accused me in October 2020 of 'potential' wrongdoing, I have reached a settlement agreement to put this issue to rest. I have chosen this path to save taxpayer dollars and ensure my third term as Attorney General is unburdened by unnecessary distractions. This settlement achieves these goals. I look forward to serving the people...
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