Category Archives: Scandalized!

Time for the 5th Court to decide on Paxton prosecutor pay

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Do your job, y’all. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s months-long effort to remove the judge in his securities fraud case is coming to a head in a Dallas appeals court. Prosecutors say the 5th Court of Appeals has no jurisdiction … Continue reading →

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Collin County punts prosecutor pay question back to appeals court

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Incoming! The Collin County Commissioners Court has voted to not pay the prosecutors pursuing criminal charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton. The 5th Court of Appeals last week directed the commissioners to vote on the prosecutors’ latest bill before it … Continue reading →

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Appeals court chooses not to decide in Paxton prosecutor pay case

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This is oddly fitting. The 5th Court of Appeals on Wednesday said they won’t make a decision on whether the three prosecutors’ fees are legal until the county votes to pay their last bill, which topped $205,000. The prosecutors’ pay … Continue reading →

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Appeals court hears Paxton prosecutors pay arguments

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Meanwhile, back in Dallas, the 5th Court of Appeals had a hearing on the never-ending lawsuit by a Collin County crony to cut off payments to the Ken Paxton special prosecutors. On its face, the lawsuit filed by Jeffory Blackard, … Continue reading →

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Appeals court to determine if Paxton gets a new judge

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Hold everything. A state appeals court has intervened in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, putting it on hold as his lawyers try to get a new judge. Hours after Paxton’s team requested that the Dallas-based 5th … Continue reading →

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Sen. Carlos Uresti indicted on federal fraud charges

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Very bad. State Sen. Carlos Uresti, accused of misleading a former client who invested in a company in which Uresti has a financial stake, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 11 charges over his involvement in the alleged … Continue reading →

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Paxton tries again – and fails – to get a new judge

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Never give up, never surrender, I guess. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal defense lawyers filed a motion Wednesday arguing the judge assigned to oversee his securities fraud trial is ineligible to oversee the case because his appointment was temporary. Legal … Continue reading →

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Judicial Conduct commission seeks suspension of JP Hilary Green

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Holy moley. In an explosive and rare move, Texas judicial authorities on Wednesday asked the Texas Supreme Court to suspend a Harris County justice of the peace accused of paying prostitutes for sex, misusing illegal drugs and ruling unethically in … Continue reading →

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Someone really doesn’t like the Paxton case judge

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

It’s dirty tricks time. An anonymous campaign-like piece of mail has begun appearing in Texas attacking the judge overseeing Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal securities fraud trial, discrediting the Tarrant County jurist who has said he plans to stay with … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial delayed

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Alas. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman’s trial on federal corruption charges has been pushed back to next year. The trial, originally scheduled to begin June 5, will now kick off on Jan. 29, 2018, according to an order issued Wednesday … Continue reading →

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Paxton still pushing for a new judge

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Still, he persisted, I guess. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawyers are not giving up in their bid to get a new judge in his securities fraud case. Earlier this month, Judge George Gallagher ordered Paxton’s trial be moved to … Continue reading →

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No new judge for Paxton

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Denied! State District Judge George Gallagher will remain on the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a spokeswoman for the judge. It was originally believed Gallagher would have to rule on a request Paxton’s lawyers made … Continue reading →

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Paxton wants a new judge

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

He may not get his wish. The judge presiding over Attorney General Ken Paxton’s criminal trial plans to remain on the case, regardless of Paxton’s request for a new judge, his spokesman said. “He anticipates remaining the judge,” District Judge … Continue reading →

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Paxton’s trial date set for September 12

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendars. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s newly relocated criminal trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 12. The judge in the case set the trial date Wednesday, a day after moving the proceedings to Harris County. The trial had originally … Continue reading →

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Paxton trial moved to Harris County

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The circus is coming to town, with none of those morally questionable animal acts to get all angsty about. Attorney General Ken Paxton will face a jury in Harris County on felony criminal charges he committed securities fraud and failed … Continue reading →

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Stockman trial date set

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Mark your calendar. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman is set to go to trial June 5 on federal corruption charges. Stockman, a Houston-area Republican, has pleaded not guilty to charges of funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable donations … Continue reading →

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Stockman pleads not guilty

Posted on April 11, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And we’re off. Standing tall, with his hands hanging loosely at his sides, former U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman told a federal magistrate in Houston Monday he understood the criminal charges against him and pleaded not guilty to theft of about … Continue reading →

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Steve Stockman claims he’s broke

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Pobrecito. Former Congressman Steve Stockman told a federal magistrate Wednesday he can’t afford to pay for a lawyer to represent him against allegations he helped steal about $800,000 in charitable donations intended for conservative organizations. U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson … Continue reading →

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Dukes fails to get charges tossed

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Too bad for her. A Travis County state district judge denied a motion by state Rep. Dawnna Dukes to dismiss four felony counts against her for tampering with public records. Dukes’ attorneys on March 8 asked Judge Brad Urrutia to … Continue reading →

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A closer look at the Stockman saga

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Chron reporter Lise Olson takes a deep dive into the charges against former Congressman and fulltime hot mess Steve Stockman. Steve Stockman was soon to board a plane for the United Arab Emirates this month when his unorthodox life took … Continue reading →

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More on the attack on the Paxton special prosecutors’ pay

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

From Texas Lawyer. As courtroom twists go, this one is practically unheard-of: On the brink of bringing Texas’ attorney general, Ken Paxton, to trial on felony securities fraud charges, the government’s prosecutors are threatening to bail out of the case … Continue reading →

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Paxton case gets moved out of Collin County

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Well, well, well. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s upcoming trials will be moved out of Collin County, the judge presiding over his criminal fraud case decided Thursday. The ruling is a major victory for the prosecutors, who have for months argued … Continue reading →

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Stockman indicted

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

And here the troubles begin. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman and a former congressional aide were indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges they stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from charitable foundations to fund campaigns and pay … Continue reading →

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Stockman’s first day in court

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Appearing carefree and relaxed with his wife by his side, former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman told reporters outside a court hearing downtown Friday that he expected “to be vindicated” on allegations … Continue reading →

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More on the Stockman arrest

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

I’m just going to leave this here. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, a Republican whose district stretched from Houston to Beaumont, allegedly conspired with two staffers to bilk conservative foundations out of at least $775,000 in donations meant for charitable … Continue reading →

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Steve Stockman gets busted

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Well, lookie here. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, has been charged with violating federal election law. Stockman conspired with former congressional employees to funnel money intended for a charity to his campaign, according to a sworn statement from an … Continue reading →

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Paxton prosecutors ask for delay

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Delay for pay, as it were. The special prosecutors handling the securities fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are asking to put off his trial until they can get paid. On Thursday, the prosecutors proposed moving the trial, … Continue reading →

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Paxton beats SEC rap again

Posted on March 4, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Not a surprise. A federal judge has again thrown out securities fraud charges against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, effectively ending one of two legal battles that have dogged Paxton for close to a year. U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant … Continue reading →

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Twice the trials, twice the fun

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

The Paxton special prosecutors want to separate the charges into two trials. Special prosecutors said Thursday they would like to try Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton first on charges he failed to register as an investment advisor, pushing a lengthy … Continue reading →

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FBI and IRS raid Sen. Carlos Uresti’s office

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

That’s never a good thing. FBI and IRS agents raided the San Antonio law offices of state Sen. Carlos Uresti on Thursday morning — confiscating documents and other items. A law enforcement source told the the San Antonio Express-News, which … Continue reading →

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Paxton prosecutors want change of venue

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

At this point, who can blame them? The prosecutors in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s securities fraud case are asking for a change of venue, arguing they cannot get a fair trial in Collin County. The prosecutors say Judge George Gallagher … Continue reading →

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Paxton prosecutor pay suspended

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Whiplash! Collin County must immediately stop paying the three lawyers prosecuting Ken Paxton’s criminal fraud case, a Dallas court has said. The 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas on Monday temporarily halted the payments — the result of a lawsuit … Continue reading →

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Appeals court tosses Paxton prosecutor payment lawsuit again

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Round and round we go. The three lawyers prosecuting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can continue to get paid, at least for now, a Dallas appeals court decided this week. For more than a year, local real estate developer Jeffory … Continue reading →

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Dukes indicted

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Boom. A grand jury has indicted state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, on abuse-of-office charges, the Travis County District Attorney’s office said Wednesday. She could face up to 28 years in jail and fines of up to $138,000. The first indictment … Continue reading →

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