All of the seven employees who accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of criminal behavior have now left the agency.
Earlier this month, seven of Paxton’s top aides signed their names to a letter to the AG office’s director of human resources, accusing Paxton of “violating federal and/or state law including prohibitions related to improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential criminal offenses.”
Paxton essentially pointed the finger back at all seven of his deputies, claiming their letter was sent in order to obstruct an investigation into public employees, including employees in the AG’s office.
The letter became public shortly after Jeff Mateer resigned abruptly as the first assistant attorney general, leaving to rejoin First Liberty Institute, a religious liberty advocacy group, as general counsel.
Since then, the other six employees who signed their name to the letter have either resigned, been put on leave, or been terminated.
| Jeffrey Mateer | First Assistant Attorney General | Resigned |
| James Brickman | Deputy Attorney General for Policy & Strategy Initiatives | Terminated |
| Darren McCarty | Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation | Resigned |
| Ryan Vassar | Deputy Attorney General for Legal Counsel | Placed on Leave |
| Ryan Bangert | Deputy First Assistant Attorney General | Resigned |
| Lacey Mase | Deputy Attorney General for Administration | Terminated |
| J. Mark Penley | Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice | Placed on Leave |
