AUSTIN - More than a year has passed since FBI agents raided the home and offices of area businessman Nate Paul, yet no apparent criminal charges have materialized.
And while Attorney General Ken Paxton has had his eye on possible improprieties with search warrants used by agents in the Paul raid on Aug. 14, 2019, in a related matter Paxton now faces backlash from seven staffers who accuse him of abuse of office and bribery, according to their Oct. 1 letter.
Over the weekend, the Houston Chronicle reported Paul was at the center of the allegations against Paxton. The article cited a $25,000 donation Paul made to Paxton’s 2018 reelection campaign.
Paxton hit back hard today with the following statement calling the staffers "rogue employees" who impeded an investigation he was obligated to take on:
“The Texas Attorney General’s office was referred a case from Travis County regarding allegations of crimes relating to the FBI, other government agencies and individuals. My obligation as attorney general is to conduct an investigation upon such referral. Because employees from my office impeded the investigation and because I knew Nate Paul I ultimately decided to hire an outside independent prosecutor to make his own independent determination. Despite the effort by rogue employees and their false allegations I will continue to seek justice in Texas and will not be resigning.”
Paxton issued the statement after U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, a former Paxton aide, called for his resignation.
On July 31, The Record was first to report on the AG's possible investigation of the FBI, Department of Justice, and Texas State Securities Board in relation to possible improprieties with search warrants used by the agents to raid Paul’s World Class Holdings Office, his residence, and World Class Server Room at a third location.
The FBI told The Record on Monday that it is their policy to neither confirm nor deny investigations and that they are not aware of any criminal charges against Paul.
The investigation into the raid on Paul's home and offices is believed to have been referred to the AG’s Office by Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore.