This was the first time Paxton has appeared in court regarding these cases for years. The cases date back to 2015, when a Collin County jury indicted him on two first-degree felony fraud charges and one third-degree charge of failing to register with state securities regulators.
The suspended attorney general was allowed to enter and exit the courtroom through a backdoor, avoiding the press, and accompanied by about a dozen security officers. His wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, was not present.After the hearing, both Paxton’s lawyers and the special prosecutors held brief press conferences in which they separately agreed that the outcome of his upcoming impeachment trial will substantially affect these cases.
“It’s too early to tell. But logically if he’s impeached in the Senate he would have greater motivation to resolve this case because his political career, one would think, would be dead,” said Dan Cogdell, who is defending Paxton in both the impeachment trial and fraud cases. Any federal charges against Paxton will also affect this case, special prosecutors hired to present the case against the attorney general said. The FBI is investigating Paxton for alleged corruption stemming from the same allegations laid out in his impeachment articles.“If in fact the feds indict him, on some level we may become footnotes,” said Brian Wice. “That’s going to take center stage and that could ultimately relegate this to a second act.
Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: ksatnews - 🏆 442. / 53 Read more »
Source: WOKVNews - 🏆 247. / 63 Read more »
Source: FOX26Houston - 🏆 448. / 53 Read more »
Source: CBSNewYork - 🏆 268. / 63 Read more »