Texas state bar files professional misconduct lawsuit against Ken Paxton for attempt to overturn 2020 presidential elections

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A disciplinary committee for the State Bar of Texas on Wednesday filed a professional misconduct lawsuit against Attorney General Ken Paxton for his attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential elections in four battleground states won by President Joe Biden.

The filing in Collin County by the Commission for Lawyer Discipline, a standing committee of the state bar, is an extraordinary move by the body that regulates law licenses in the state against the sitting attorney general. It stems from complaints against Paxton for a lawsuit that the U.S. Supreme Court threw out, saying Texas lacked standing to sue and that Paxton's political opponents called "frivolous."

It seeks a sanction against Paxton, which will be determined by a judge, that could range from a private reprimand to disbarment.

In its filing, the commission said Paxton had misrepresented that he had uncovered substantial evidence that "raises serious doubts as to the integrity of the election process in the defendant states."

"As a result of Respondent’s actions, Defendant States were required to expend time, money, and resources to respond to the misrepresentations and false statements contained in these pleadings and injunction requests even though they had previously certified their presidential electors based on the election results prior to the filing of Respondent’s pleadings," the lawsuit read.

The lawsuit also says Paxton made "dishonest" representations that an "outcome determinative" number of votes were tied to unregistered voters, votes were switched by a glitch with voting machines, state actors had unconstitutionally revised their election statutes and "illegal votes" had been cast to affect the outcome of the election.

The lawsuit says Paxton's allegations "were not supported by any charge, indictment, judicial finding, and/or credible or admissible evidence, and failed to disclose to the Court that some of his representations and allegations had already been adjudicated and/or dismissed in a court of law."

The complaint asks for a finding of professional misconduct against Paxton, as well as attorney's fees and "an appropriate sanction."

Earlier this month, Paxton had said he'd been notified that he and one of his top deputies would be sued for professional misconduct following a state bar investigation into multiple complaints against them. The lawsuit against First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster in Williamson County was made public that day. But the lawsuit against Paxton was not filed until Wednesday, one day after Paxton defeated Land Commissioner George P. Bush in the GOP runoff for attorney general.

"Texas Bar: I’ll see you and the leftists that control you in court," Paxton said earlier this month. "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."

Later that day, Paxton announced an investigation into the Texas Bar Foundation for "facilitating mass influx of illegal aliens" by donating money to groups that "encourage, participate in, and fund illegal immigration at the Texas-Mexico border." The foundation is made up of attorneys and raises money to provide legal education and services. It is separate from the State Bar of Texas, which is an administrative arm of the Texas Supreme Court.

The lawsuit against Paxton stems from multiple complaints filed by Kevin Moran, president of the Galveston Island Democrats; David Wellington Chew, former chief justice of the Eighth District Court of Appeals; retired attorney Neil Kay Cohen; attorney Brynne VanHettinga; and Gershon "Gary" Ratner, the co-founder of Lawyers Defending American Democracy.

Cohen said he was outraged by Paxton's attempt to overturn the election results and filed a 51-page grievance to the state bar on why he thought the attorney general had violated state disciplinary rules for attorneys. The grievance was initially rejected, but Cohen and several others won their appeal to move the complaint forward. On Wednesday, Cohen said he was happy the state bar was moving forward with the lawsuit.

"I wasn't sure this day would come," Cohen said. "I wasn't sure until they actually filed it that they were actually going to file it."

Still, Cohen said, his reaction is tempered because Paxton has so far avoided punishment for other accusations that he's violated the law. Paxton has faced securities fraud charges for seven years now, and more recently has come under FBI investigation after eight former top deputies accused him of bribery and abuse of office. Paxton denies all wrongdoing.

"I'm not sure what it matters," he said. "Paxton's in a lot of trouble already. If the worst that can happen to him is getting disbarred, well, compared to going to jail for obstructing a criminal investigation or for stock fraud, the penalties should be super embarrassing but the penalties are slight compared to the criminal things."

Cohen said he still hoped those cases eventually go to trial, but that the professional misconduct suit by the bar is an opportunity to dispel the prevalent idea among some that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

"I would like something on the record that these claims of a stolen election are bogus," he said.

Disclosure: State Bar of Texas has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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