Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s divorce case has taken an unexpected turn: the previously sealed records are now public.
Judge Robert Brotherton, who is presiding over the case, signed an order Friday morning that allows the documents to be released. The order followed an agreement reached by Paxton and his wife, state Senator Angela Paxton, late Thursday.
Tyler Bexley, an attorney representing a coalition of media outlets that fought for the release, welcomed the ruling as a victory for transparency. “We’re certainly pleased with the result,” Bexley said after the hearing.
The records, made public before noon, show that the Paxtons have entered mediation and that their blind trust has disbursed $20,000 to each of them to cover legal fees. They also reveal that Angela Paxton requested her husband produce records relevant to the case earlier this month.
Additionally, the documents list several judges who recused themselves from the case before it was assigned to Brotherton, a visiting judge based in Wichita Falls.
The Texas Newsroom had already published copies of several records-including Paxton’s general denial of his wife’s divorce petition-prior to the sealing of the documents.
Angela Paxton filed for divorce in July, alleging adultery. Soon after, she requested that the court seal the record. A judge complied, and Paxton initially supported the sealing, filing a document that accused the press of attempting to unfairly invade his personal life.
Eight media organizations and a nonpartisan nonprofit challenged the sealing, arguing that Paxton’s divorce records should be public because he is an elected official running for office and has faced repeated corruption allegations. The attorney general’s finances, which are part of the divorce case, have been central to the misconduct allegations against him. Although he has been charged with multiple crimes during his decade in statewide office, he has never been convicted.
Laura Roach, one of Paxton’s lawyers, told reporters after Friday’s hearing that the attorney general had always wanted the record to be unsealed. “Mr. Paxton has always wanted us to actually unseal it,” she said. “Attorneys get on a path and we think that that’s the right way to go and we were finally able to get everybody on the same page.”
Asked why Paxton initially opposed the unsealing so strongly, she added, “that’s just legal stuff. … His attorneys said that.” Angela Paxton had asked the records be sealed because doing so would “not have an adverse affect on the public health or safety.” Her representatives declined to respond on Friday. Michael Clauw, the communications director for the nonprofit Campaign for Accountability that also sought the release of the records, said he does not believe Ken Paxton actually wanted them to be made public. “It’s ridiculous to believe that Ken Paxton ‘always wanted’ his divorce record to be unsealed,” he said. “Only when it became apparent he likely would lose in court did he change his tune.”
Roach said she expects the case to be resolved amicably soon. Neither Ken Paxton nor Angela Paxton appeared at the court. Paxton is now challenging John Cornyn in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. The case will continue with additional filings, but the current documents do not shed more light on the couple’s financial situation, division of assets, or the alleged affair that led to the divorce.
Key Takeaways
- The divorce records are now public, revealing mediation and attorney fee details.
- The unsealing followed an agreement between Paxton and his wife after a prolonged battle to keep the documents sealed.
- The case remains ongoing, with further filings expected as the divorce proceeds.
With the records now in the public domain, the debate over transparency and the attorney general’s personal affairs has intensified. The next chapters of the divorce will unfold as additional documents are filed, keeping the public and media closely watching the proceedings.
