Trump says he 'would actually' consider Texas AG Ken Paxton for US attorney general
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to reporters Feb. 26 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)
Former President Donald Trump said this weekend he “would actually” consider Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for U.S. attorney general if he returns to the White House.
Trump told KDFW that Paxton is a “very talented guy,” according to coverage by the Austin American-Statesman and the Texas Tribune.
Trump had supported Paxton during the Texan’s impeachment trial, in which Paxton was accused of misusing his office to benefit a developer and employing a woman with whom Paxton was having an affair.
Paxton was acquitted at the impeachment trial.
“I fought for him when he had the difficulty,” Trump told KDFW. “And we won.”
Paxton has also been accused of defrauding technology company investors by not disclosing that he was making a commission on the sales and falsely claiming that he had invested in the company.
In March, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the state securities fraud charges in a deferred prosecution agreement requiring Paxton to complete community service, take legal ethics classes and pay restitution. Paxton did not admit guilt.
Other possible attorney general picks include two Republican senators, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
The Austin American-Statesman and the Texas Tribune note that nominees for attorney general must win approval from the U.S. Senate, where Democrats currently have a 51-49 majority.
“Plus, there’s an unfriendly twist for Paxton in the form of Sen. John Cornyn,” a Republican from Texas who has been “unabashed in his criticism of Paxton,” the Austin American-Statesman says.
