A Texas businessman at the center of the scandal that led to the historic impeachment of state Attorney General Ken Paxton was charged Friday with making false statements to mortgage lenders to obtain $172 million in loans. A 23-page federal indictment was unsealed against real estate developer Nate Paul, 36, who was arrested Thursday by the FBI.
The indictment is the result of a yearslong FBI investigation — a probe Paxton involved his office in, setting off a chain of events that ultimately led to his impeachment and suspension from office last month. There was no mention of Paxton or the attorney general's office during a hearing Friday.
Paul was charged with eight counts of making false statements while seeking loans from mortgage lenders in the U.S. and Ireland. Prosecutors said each count of making false statements carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Paul did not enter a plea during his initial appearance in an Austin court nor visibly react as the charges against him were read. He entered the federal courtroom shackled and wearing jeans, a blue shirt and Nikes, and was released ahead of trial but ordered to surrender his passport and inform the court of any travel outside Texas.
Paul is "adamant that he is not guilty," defense attorney Gerry Morris said after hearing, adding that he did not know when his client last spoke with Paxton. Dan Cogdell, a defense attorney for Paxton, said Thursday that he had no information on the...
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