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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is on the verge of finalizing an agreement that could alleviate some of his ongoing legal troubles. Expected to be signed in Harris County on Tuesday, the deal would result in the dismissal of three securities fraud charges that have lingered for nearly nine years, just weeks before Paxton was due to stand trial.
The charges against Paxton originated from indictments in July 2015, initially filed as two first-degree felony charges in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The case was later transferred to Harris County, contributing to its prolonged duration. Paxton was accused of allegedly concealing financial incentives received for promoting a tech startup’s stock, as well as failing to register with the Texas State Securities Board while directing clients to an investment advising business that compensated him for the referrals.
According to sources, the agreement between Paxton and prosecutors is structured as a pre-trial intervention contract, which would prevent additional case details from entering the public record. Under the terms of the deal, Paxton would be granted an 18-month reset period, during which he must fulfill various conditions to warrant the dismissal of charges.
Reportedly, these conditions entail a substantial restitution payment, community service, and participation in legal education courses for the state’s highest-ranking law enforcement official.