Bigoted Texas Attorney General Could Be Facing Life in Prison on First-Degree Felony Charges
Source: ForwardProgressives
July 1, 2015 By Allen Clifton
At one point, Paxton told clerks issuing marriage licenses in Texas that they could refuse to do so, and the attorneys working for the state would be there to support any punishment or lawsuits they might face as a result of their actions.
Needless to say, a lot of this rhetoric has just been for show. Its often said by those with bigger political aspirations, simply pandering to the crowds of closed-minded Republican voters theyll assuredly need to win over if they want to ascend to bigger and better things politically. The bottom line is, theres absolutely no legal leg to stand on for any of these state officials or politicians who have suggested that states dont have to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
Well, Paxton might want to move past his outrage over same-sex marriage pretty quickly; new information discovered by Texas Rangers might saddle him with a first-degree felony charge linked to securities fraud, which potentially carries with it a sentence of life in prison.
Read more: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/bigoted-texas-attorney-general-facing-life-prison-first-degree-felony-charges/
Attorney General Paxton could face first-degree felony case
Tanya Eiserer, WFAA 7:38 p.m. CDT July 1, 2015
WFAA-TV
The criminal investigation against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken a more serious turn, with special prosecutors now planning to present a first-degree felony securities fraud case against him to a Collin County grand jury, News 8 has learned.
Special prosecutor Kent Schaffer told News 8 Wednesday afternoon that the Texas Rangers uncovered new evidence during the investigation that led to the securities fraud allegations against the sitting attorney general.
"The Rangers went out to investigate one thing, and they came back with information on something else," Schaffer told News 8. "It's turned into something different than when they started."
Schaffer, a Houston criminal defense attorney, said the securities fraud allegations involve amounts well in excess of $100,000. He declined to comment specifics of the fraud allegations.
A first-degree felony conviction is punishable by up to life in prison.
-snip-
Read more: http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/politics/2015/07/01/ken-paxton-felony-fraud-case/29593211/
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)BlueEye
(449 posts)"THE HOMOSEXTUALS SOLD ME THOSE FRAUDULENT SECURITIES."
At any rate, I look forward to hearing the specifics of the charges. The early details sound like he was profiting from some side investment consulting gig that he did not disclose. I would imagine the big question is whether the information he is privy to as Texas AG was material to his solicitation of securities. THAT would fry him for sure.
The people of Texas should have no confidence in their Republican leadership.
dem in texas
(2,674 posts)It is well known in the North Texas area that Paxton was facing charges for security fraud and was also facing disbarment from the Texas bar. The District Attorney in Collin County was his buddy and was stalling the case. Collin county has a new District attorney and he called for the Texas Rangers to investigate and for a special prosecutor, not one from Collin County. I can't believe Republicans voted him into office, he bilked people out of thousands of dollars, maybe even more. Collin county is deep Tea Party county and the good old boy network is strong up there. Glad to see there is some change.
minidriver
(57 posts)Paxton was voted in on the repub ticket because the mega-church goers will vote for a giant pile of fresh steaming cow manure if it has an R for it's political affiliation.
47of74
(18,470 posts)...serve up the same old steaming piles on abortion and gay marriage and lock in the assbite vote.
randys1
(16,286 posts)marble falls
(57,537 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)Collin County, wherever that is, unless it is Austin, he walks.
red dog 1
(27,935 posts)This asshole deserves a lengthy prison sentence, and I hope that's exactly what he'll get.
mountain grammy
(26,676 posts)Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)He was going around convincing people he had represented as a lawyer to invest money with his business partner and not disclosing that he was making a profit from it.
His excuse that it was an "administrative" error is complete bullshit. He was sued for doing it in 2009 and knew it was wrong, then he got popped by the State Securities Board for doing it again in 2012.
When he was running for the AG spot, it was predicted by the Lone Star Project (and others) that he would be indicted for felonies.
http://www.lonestarproject.net/after-admitting-crimes-paxton-should-exit-ag-race#.VZS9__nkqAg
Politics as usual in Texas. Conservative voters don't even give a shit if their elected representatives are crooks.
herding cats
(19,569 posts)I'll be keeping an eye on this. Thanks for posting!
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)Any judge looks at prior offenses and other mitigating and aggravating factors before handing down the sentence. I would think life in prison would be unlikely if this is his first offense (which I would guess is the first time he's been caught, god knows whatever else he's been up to). He likely will be in prison a long time if he is convicted.
cynzke
(1,254 posts)Some stupid clerks are defying the SCOTUS ruling in Texas and refusing to issue license. How can Paxton promise legal support to these clerks when he has no legal authority to offer that support. These clerks are in for a big surprise when they find themselves in a civil court having to pay for their own attorney's fees and have to pay the plaintiffs when they lose the case.
DhhD
(4,695 posts)After reading the Holy Bible, the forefathers of America set up the documents for a new and independent government of We the People, over the union of states known as colonies (to England), not as a Church with multiple personal theologies as in a collectivism but as a representative republic of union.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107826723
Paxton Exploits the State, to include workers of the State of Texas.
Evar
(44 posts)Texans could have elected Sam Houston, a Democrat and longtime attorney. He ran as the people's lawyer, but despite his excellent record, the voters elected Paxton whose possible indictment was looming. We now have one of the worst group of crazies and corrupt politicians running Texas we've ever had.
Frank Cannon
(7,570 posts)if a Democrat named SAM HOUSTON can't get elected.
Gothmog
(145,965 posts)He is active in the Harris County Democratic Lawyer group
Frank Cannon
(7,570 posts)My wife is from Texas, and we lived there for many years. We have a great many friends and family who are still there. Most are progressive Democrats. The Republicans we know are mostly they really old folks, and even they don't care for the Tea Party bullshit.
If you are a decent person named Sam Houston and you can't get elected in Texas, something is seriously wrong.
Gothmog
(145,965 posts)It was well known that Paxton was a crook during the 2014 general election but this idiot got elected anyway. It can be very frustrating living in Texas at times
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)Lifelong Texan here, and I am constantly amazed at the absolute and utter stupidity and lack of knowledge of Texas Republicans. They will vote for anyone as long as they are NOT liberal. Doesn't matter what they may have done, as long as they aren't "librul", then these idiots will vote them into office.
I hope this investigation is done carefully, and that charges are filed and Paxton is sent to jail. Each time one of these political criminals is exposed, I keep hoping that these voters will start to SEE what is happening.
1Greensix
(111 posts)My granddaddy used to say that you got what you deserved. I guess that applies to Texas politics. It's kind of amazing that Texans couldn't care less about crime, as long as it's by a Republican. Do they only commit those crimes against Democrats and Independents? Texas has always been a sinkhole of crooked politics, from before the Kennedy Assassination to today. Crooked, Crooked, and Crooked. They deserve it if they won't fix it.
Paladin
(28,287 posts)hamsterjill
(15,224 posts)Some of us are down here working our asses off to try to put some common sense and meaning back into Texas politics, and we get this kind of shit???!!!
red dog 1
(27,935 posts)It wasn't that long ago that the extremely popular Gov. Anne Richards was "vote-flipped" out of office by Karl Rove so that his buddy George W. Bush could take over as governor.
If, by some miracle, Texas was to convert to 100% mail-in ballots like Oregon has, the Democrats would probably find themselves back in control.
Bill Moyers, Ramsey Clark, & Jim Hightower are all Texas democrats.
Musicians Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson & Don Henley of The Eagles are all Democrats who come from Texas as well.
"You get what you deserve"??
I don't think so.
olddad56
(5,732 posts)isn't it just assumed that they are going to do that?
Faux pas
(14,714 posts)to take in all the glorious scandal later.