Scroll To Top
Politicians

Antigay Texas Attorney General Surrenders After Indictment

Antigay Texas Attorney General Surrenders After Indictment

Ken-paxton-x400

Some are feeling a sense of schadenfreude after antigay AG Ken Paxton was indicted for fraud.

Nbroverman

The powerful attorney general of Texas -- who stymied marriage in the Lone Star State and called the Supreme Court's decision for marriage equality "lawless" and "flawed" -- surrendered to authorities Monday.

Ken Paxton is facing two counts of fraud and one count of failing to register as an investment adviser, the Los Angeles Times reports. Paxton, a former state representative who has only served seven months as AG, allegedly directed investors to a Dallas-area tech company without telling them he was getting a cut for the referrals. Each fraud count carries sentences of five to 99 years.

When marriage equality became the law of the land in late June, Paxton told county clerks that could defy the Supreme Court and withhold marriage licenses for same-sex couples. In his statement to the clerks, Paxton acknowledged that such refusals could result in lawsuits or fines, but he also wrote that "numerous lawyers stand ready to assist clerks defending their religious beliefs, in many cases on a pro-bono basis, and I will do everything I can from this office to be a public voice for those standing in defense of their rights."

Texas's first out legislator, Glen Maxey, later filed an ethics complaint against Paxton because of his directive.

"It's irresponsible for an elected official -- and a lawyer -- to tell other elected officials to break the law," Maxey said in a prepared statement. "He's misleading county and state officials based on a false premise that they can discriminate against same-sex couples."

Nbroverman
Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.