# Paxton's Contracts May End With Successor

> Texas Attorney General's successor to review contracts with ex-impeached lawyer.
- Title: Paxton's Contracts May End With Successor · Houstonchronicle
- Summary: Texas Attorney General's successor to review contracts with ex-impeached lawyer.
- Keywords: ken paxton, tony buzbee, nathan johnson, texas attorney general, impeachment trial, outside law firms, antitrust lawsuits, consumer protection cases, Houstonchronicle
- Source: Houstonchronicle — https://houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/paxton-tony-buzbee-22521641.php
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ken paxton, tony buzbee, nathan johnson, texas attorney general, impeachment trial, outside law firms, antitrust lawsuits, consumer protection cases, news, local
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Texas Attorney General Nathan Johnson plans to scrutinize Ken Paxton's use of outside law firms after Buzbee received four major contracts since 2024.