CROOKED KEN’S PAY-TO-PLAY SCHEMES

Ken Paxton has used the Attorney General’s Office to benefit people who helped him personally—whether covering his affair, funding his lifestyle, or saving his political career. Two cases show the pattern with unmistakable clarity.

The Nate Paul / Laura Olson Scandal

A donor bankrolls Paxton’s mistress. Paxton uses the power of his office to protect the donor.

When real-estate investor Nate Paul came under FBI investigation, he turned to his political ally Ken Paxton. Paul was a Paxton donor—and Paxton intervened repeatedly on Paul’s behalf:

  • Pressured senior staff to interfere in Paul’s legal problems

  • Ordered investigations into law-enforcement officials involved in Paul’s raid

  • Forced the AG’s Office to take unusual actions benefiting Paul personally

Senior Republican aides were so alarmed they reported Paxton to the FBI.

The motive came into focus when whistleblowers revealed Paul had provided a major personal benefit to Paxton:
Paul arranged a job for Paxton’s mistress, Laura Olson, making it easier for Paxton to maintain the affair.

In exchange, Paxton used the Attorney General’s Office to advance Paul’s interests, despite mounting legal and ethical risks. The structure was simple:

Paul helped Paxton privately → Paxton helped Paul publicly.

That is the definition of a bribe.

The Tony Buzbee Quid-Pro-Quo Contract

Buzbee saves Paxton from impeachment. Paxton rewards him with a taxpayer-funded state contract.

In 2023, Paxton faced 16 articles of impeachment. His political future depended on one person: Tony Buzbee, his lead defense attorney.

Paxton’s campaign then paid:

  • Over $100,000 directly to Buzbee, and

  • More than $2.3 million to his broader defense team (as documented in internal research).

After Buzbee helped Paxton avoid conviction, Paxton’s office awarded Buzbee something far more valuable:

A lucrative state contract to represent Texas in a high-stakes antitrust lawsuit against BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard.

Key facts:

  • Buzbee is not known for antitrust litigation—this was not a merit-based selection.

  • Paxton did not recuse himself, even though Buzbee had just saved his political career.

  • Buzbee publicly states his hourly rate is $2,250, meaning the contract could reach millions.

  • This fits Paxton’s pattern of rewarding allies through taxpayer-funded work.

This isn’t traditional pay-to-play—it’s payback-with-public-money.
Buzbee protected Paxton personally. Paxton rewarded Buzbee officially.

THE PATTERN IS UNDENIABLE

Paxton receives a personal benefit → Paxton abuses his office → the insider gets rewarded, and Texans get stuck with the bill.