for a $100,000 undisclosed gift<\/a> he received from a North Texas medical entrepreneur \u2014 who was himself subsequently ordered to pay $3.5 million to settle allegations that it had defrauded Medicare and Medicaid.<\/p>\nThat $100,000 was supposed to be disclosed to the Texas ethics commission \u2014 but \u201cnot until it was caught was the question asked,\u201d Employ said.<\/p>\n
The size of the gift aroused surprise from the legislators.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNot many people walk up to me and give me $100,000. In fact, it\u2019s never happened,\u201d state Rep Charlie Geren (R) said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The four aides \u2014 all of whom were conservative Republicans \u2014 had complained about this conduct to state and federal law enforcement.<\/p>\n
In a lawsuit charging wrongful termination, which eventually led to the $3.3 million settlement, the fired lawyers accused Paxton of a \u201cbizarre, obsessive use of power.\u201d<\/p>\n
It said some of Paxton\u2019s actions \u201cwere so egregious and so contrary to appropriate use of his office, that they could only have been prompted by illicit motives such as a desire to repay debts, pay hush money, or reciprocate favors extended by Paul,\u201d the Austin realtor said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Hill has reached out to Paxton\u2019s office for comment. During Wednesday\u2019s hearing, Paxton called into a Dallas radio show to complain about the proceedings, the Tribune noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this is a level that is shocking to me, especially from a Republican House,\u201d Paxton told the radio host.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what they have time to do as opposed to some of the important things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The attorney general now faces the prospect of impeachment by the House and a trial in the Senate.<\/p>\n
His securities fraud investigation \u2014 now run from the Department of Justice central offices in Washington, D.C. \u2014 also remains ongoing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Paxton faces a professional misconduct investigation<\/a> stemming from complaints by the Texas State Bar Association over his role in challenging the legitimacy of President Joe Biden\u2019s 2022 election.<\/p>\n\u201cTexas Bar: I\u2019ll see you and the leftists that control you in court,\u201d Paxton said when the complaint was filed last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite his legal troubles, Paxton cruised to his third term last year. He beat his top Republican challenger by 36 points in a primary runoff and won the general election by 10 points.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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