From Houstonchronicle · · 1m 40s
Paxton's Contracts May End With Successor
Texas Attorney General's successor to review contracts with ex-impeached lawyer.
In brief
Texas Attorney General's successor to review contracts with ex-impeached lawyer. Texas Attorney General Nathan Johnson plans to scrutinize Ken Paxton's use of outside law firms after Buzbee received four major contracts since 2024. Originally reported by Houstonchronicle.
Impeachment Acquittal
Ken Paxton was acquitted of impeachment charges by the Texas Senate in May 2023.
Buzbee's Legal Role
Tony Buzbee, a Houston defense attorney, represented Paxton during impeachment and later received four state contracts since 2024.
Payment Mystery
Buzbee earned a cut but couldn't recall the amount; Paxton's campaign paid $100,000 for expenses.
Contract Details
Buzbee signed contracts for antitrust lawsuits against BlackRock, TikTok, Snapchat, and OpenAI.
Contingency Rates
Law firms receive 10% to 15% of settlements, with Buzbee's firm earning up to $154 million on a $154 million case.
Successor's Plan
Nathan Johnson, the new Texas Attorney General, vows to review Paxton's use of outside law firms and terminate contracts he doesn't support.
Firm Selection
Buzbee's firm, Cooper & Kirk, worked on three cases; Keller Postman handled the OpenAI lawsuit.
Criticism
Former Maine attorney general James Tierney called Paxton's use of outside counsel 'totally unethical' due to lack of transparency.
Controversy
Paxton's office awarded dozens of contracts to outside firms without open bidding, raising concerns about accountability.
Next Steps
Johnson plans to terminate contracts he doesn't support, including those with Buzbee, when he assumes office in January.
What Happens Next
Johnson will review Paxton's use of outside law firms and may terminate contracts with Buzbee and other firms.
The short version
Texas Attorney General Nathan Johnson plans to scrutinize Ken Paxton's use of outside law firms after Buzbee received four major contracts since 2024.
