Attorney General Ken Paxton and other state officials with the Office of the Attorney General (AOG) accused the four former employees suing Paxton of making an “inconceivable” demand that he guarantee a timeline to procure funding from the Legislature for a settlement agreement.
Earlier this month, the four former employees — James Brickman, J. Mark Penley, David Maxwell, and Ryan Vassar — said Paxton is trying to get out of paying the $3.3 million proposed agreement by placing no deadline on his efforts to get the legislative appropriation. They requested the Texas Supreme Court resume the case, which is currently on pause due to the settlement negotiations.
Brickman, Penley, Maxwell, and Vassar were among those who were fired or resigned in the fall of 2020 after reporting to federal authorities their suspicions that Paxton had abused his office and committed bribery. Paxton has denied wrongdoing.
In court documents, Paxton contended on Monday his opponents knew full well the settlement would require legislative funding, and it is unreasonable to expect it to happen in such a short period of time.
“Indeed, no timing provision can be imposed upon the Texas Legislature for any appropriation without running afoul of the Texas Constitution,” the brief read.
“And whatever time limitation respondents may try to read into the (mediated settlement agreement), it is inconceivable that the Parties contracted to allow themselves mere weeks — and less than one half of a single...
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