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Texas’ government code is clear: A public employee is entitled to compensation if they face retaliation after making an accusation in good faith that their employing agency or a government official violated the law.

Reality may not be as clear.

The impeachment acquittal of Attorney General Ken Paxton last week renewed attention on a whistleblower lawsuit filed by four men who were fired from top jobs in the attorney general’s office after they told authorities that Paxton improperly used the agency to help a friend and political donor.

The former employees and Paxton negotiated a settlement earlier this year. It would have awarded them $3.3 million and required the attorney general to apologize. But state lawmakers balked at having to pay that bill — and launched a far-reaching inquiry into how Paxton ran the office. In May, the House overwhelmingly voted to impeach Paxton. Last week, the Senate refused to convict him, returning Paxton to the helm of the agency.

Now legal experts and political observers worry the impeachment proceedings and acquittal — plus the vows of political retribution against lawmakers who voted to oust Paxton — will have a chilling effect on state employees who witness what they believe to be wrongdoing and corruption. In short, some are concerned state workers will not want to report wrongdoing in the wake of Paxton’s...

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