A Republican-led probe on Wednesday charged Texas Atty. Gene. Ken Paxton of committing multiple crimes while in office, including crimes during an extraordinary public broadcast of a scandal and alleged violations of law that plunged one of the GOP’s conservative stars into new political and legal risks.

For more than three hours, investigators presented findings alleging that Paxton tried to cover up an extramarital affair, misused his office to help a donor, circumvented protocols that were totally outside the norms, and built a culture of fear and retaliation in his office . Investigators told the GOP-led House General Investigating Committee there was evidence that Paxton had repeatedly broken the law over the years, including by misusing official information, misusing his official capacity and retaliating.

The dramatic turn of events at the Texas Capitol represents a new test of Paxton’s durability in a way the conservative firefighter has not been confronted before, despite a 2015 felony indictment and an ongoing FBI investigation. The parliamentary committee’s investigation has been quietly underway for months and only came to light on Tuesday.

The commission ended Wednesday’s hearing without acting on its findings. The panel is led by Republican state Representative Andrew Murr, who later declined to discuss next steps or a recommendation to impeach or disapprove Paxton.

The hearing began as Paxton sought regulatory approval for more than $3 million in taxpayers’ money

a

to settle a whistleblower case brought by top employees who accused him of corruption. Republican House leaders have expressed discomfort with approving the payout. The legislature ends on Monday.

The forum amounted to a notable rebuke from Republicans in a building where Paxton has long hosted defenders and allies, including GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, who praised Paxton as he sworn him in for a third term in January.

Paxton called the hours of testimony by investigators false, accused the committee of misleading the public and attacked Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan as a liberal. Paxton has also repeatedly claimed since the investigation was revealed Tuesday that Phelan was drunk on the job, something Phelan’s office has brushed off as an attempt by Paxton to save face.

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It is not surprising that a committee appointed by Liberal chairman Dade Phelan would try to disenfranchise voters in Texas and sabotage my work as attorney general, Paxton said in a written statement.

Allegations leveled by investigators surround actions by Paxton previously uncovered by reporters or revealed in court documents. Despite the cloud that has hung over Paxton for years, he has remained popular with GOP voters in Texas and has gained national prominence through lawsuits against President Biden’s administration and his defense of former President Trump.

Paxton’s former associates reported him to the FBI in 2020 on charges of breaking the law to aid a campaign worker. The donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, employed a woman whom Paxton acknowledged had been in a relationship

out of wedlock

affair. In February, the US Department of Justice

Washington established

Public Integrity Section took over Paxton’s federal criminal investigation.

Since April, the House Committee has issued at least 12 subpoenas for testimony and information to people and entities as part of its investigation into Paxton’s office, according to meeting minutes in which the parties were left anonymous to avoid retaliation and retaliation.

At Wednesday’s hearing, State Representative Ann Johnson, a Houston Democrat and commission vice chair, asked if it was fair to say that the attorney general’s office was “basically hijacked for an investigation by Nate Paul through the Attorney General’s office.” general.

That would be my opinion,” replied attorney Erin Epley, one of the investigators.

Lawyers for Paul did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

All of Paxton’s prosecutors later quit or were fired. In the years since, his office has been disrupted by behind-the-scenes chaos, with seasoned lawyers quitting over practices they say are aimed at diverting legal work, rewarding loyalists and stamping out dissent. But so far GOP lawmakers had shown little interest in looking at Paxton.

___Bleiberg reported from Dallas.