After Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led the legal challenge to the 2020 presidential election, the Texas State Bar is suing him for “professional misconduct.”

In December of 2020, following the presidential election filled with concerns about election integrity, Paxton led 18 states in filing Texas v. Pennsylvania at the United States Supreme Court. The case challenged the voting procedures in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin and sought to temporarily block those states from certifying vote counts ahead of the electoral college vote on December 14.

The Supreme Court eventually dismissed the case, saying Texas had a lack of standing to bring the lawsuit. 

Now the Texas State Bar—the professional organization that certifies lawyers—is suing Paxton for having filed the suit, calling it frivolous.

Paxton, who is currently in a runoff election against George P. Bush, says the suit is politically motivated. 

“I have recently learned that the Texas State Bar–which has been waging a months-long witch-hunt against me–now plans to sue me and my top deputy for filing Texas v. Penn.: the historic challenge to the unconstitutional 2020 presidential election joined by nearly half of all the states and over a hundred members of Congress,” said Paxton. “I stand by this lawsuit completely. Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, the Texas GOP, and even the 5th Circuit have all condemned the Bar for its bias. Now with this new line crossed–filing lawsuits and dragging my staff into it, all conveniently timed a week before early voting in my runoff election, I am certain that the Bar will not only lose, but be fully exposed for what they are: a liberal activist group masquerading as a neutral professional association.” 

“Texas Bar: I’ll see you and the leftists that control you in court. I’ll never let you bully me, my staff, or the Texans I represent into backing down or going soft on defending the Rule of Law—something for which you have little knowledge,” he added.

Shortly after news of the lawsuit was released, Paxton announced his own investigation of the Texas Bar Foundation for donating taxpayer dollars to organizations that help facilitate illegal immigration on the southern border, after U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls brought the issue to his attention.

“Unfortunately, at the very time that our state is facing an unprecedented border crisis and our brave men and women are serving Texas in Operation Lone Star, it appears that the liberal State Bar’s handpicked cronies are misusing charitable funds to make the situation even worse,” said Paxton. “I will not let this illegal behavior continue any further.”

Brandon Waltens

Brandon serves as the Senior Editor for Texas Scorecard. After managing successful campaigns for top conservative legislators and serving as a Chief of Staff in the Texas Capitol, Brandon moved outside the dome in order to shine a spotlight on conservative victories and establishment corruption in Austin. @bwaltens

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