The State Bar of Texas Drops Lawsuit Against AG Paxton.

The State Bar of Texas has officially dismissed its lawsuit against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, concluding its long-running efforts to discipline him over his controversial challenge to the 2020 presidential election results. The lawsuit sought to impose sanctions on Paxton for allegedly making false claims of voter fraud in an attempt to overturn the election outcome.

The dismissal of the case, disclosed in court documents on Wednesday, follows a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court last month. In that ruling, the Court determined that Paxton’s chief deputy could not be sanctioned for similar allegations. The disciplinary commission at the State Bar referenced this ruling as the basis for its decision to drop the lawsuit against Paxton.

Republican Attorney General KenPaxton, who has consistently denied the allegations against him, has maintained that the efforts to discipline him are politically motivated. He has stated that the claims of fraud he presented were legitimate and in line with his responsibilities as Texas' Attorney General.

The lawsuit stemmed from Paxton’s involvement in a high-profile lawsuit filed in December 2020 that sought to have the results of the presidential election reversed, claiming widespread voter fraud. The case was backed by former President Donald Trump and attracted significant national attention. Paxton argued that the election results in four battleground states—Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—were unlawfully altered, though the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the case for lack of standing.

The State Bar of Texas had accused Paxton of presenting “misleading” or “false” information to the U.S. Supreme Court, asserting that his actions amounted to professional misconduct. In response to these allegations, Paxton’s legal team contended that his actions were within the bounds of his official capacity as the state's Attorney General and did not constitute misconduct.

This legal setback for the State Bar comes on the heels of other legal challenges Paxton has faced over the years. In 2022, he reached an agreement to resolve criminal charges related to securities fraud, which had been looming since 2015. In 2023, Paxton was acquitted during an impeachment trial in the Texas Senate, where he faced charges of corruption stemming from his office’s handling of official matters.

The dismissal of the lawsuit against Paxton represents a significant moment in a long-running saga of legal and political battles surrounding the Attorney General. While Paxton has managed to avoid significant legal consequences thus far, the issue of his involvement in the 2020 election challenge remains a contentious one.

In 2022, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reached a settlement to resolve long-standing criminal charges related to securities fraud. These charges stemmed from accusations dating back to 2011, when Paxton allegedly misled investors in a technology company, Servergy. At the time, Paxton, then serving as a state legislator, reportedly failed to disclose his personal financial interest in the company while promoting its stock to potential investors. This led to allegations of securities fraud.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the FBI. In 2020, the SEC filed a civil lawsuit accusing Paxton of misleading investors. Although the FBI was involved, it ultimately did not bring charges against Paxton. In 2022, Paxton reached a settlement that allowed him to resolve the matter without facing trial or conviction.

The settlement included the agreement to perform 100 hours of community service, alongside other conditions, although the specific terms varied. Paxton has consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming the charges were politically motivated. While the charges were effectively dropped as part of the pretrial settlement, Paxton did not receive a formal acquittal or dismissal of the allegations. Instead, the settlement brought an end to the lengthy legal battle over the securities fraud claims.

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