Judge awards $6.6M to whistleblowers who were fired after reporting Texas AG Ken Paxton to FBI
A recent ruling by a district court judge awarded $6.6 million to four whistleblowers who sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for firing them in retaliation for reporting him to the FBI. The whistleblowers, Blake Brickman, David Maxwell, Mark Penley, and Ryan Vassar, informed Paxton and his office in October 2020 that they had reported him to the FBI for allegedly abusing his office. Subsequently, they were all terminated by mid-November.
Travis County Judge Catherine Mauzy determined that the whistleblowers had proven liability, damages, and attorney’s fees in their complaint against Paxton’s office. The judgment stated that the former aides had made their reports to federal law enforcement in good faith and that Paxton’s office did not contest any claims or damages in the lawsuit.
The court found that the four former aides were fired in retaliation for reporting allegations that Paxton was using his office to accept bribes from Austin real estate developer and political donor Nate Paul, who employed a woman with whom Paxton was having an extramarital affair. Despite denying these accusations, Paxton was impeached in the House in 2023, although he was later acquitted in the Senate.
In response to the judge’s ruling, Paxton called it “ridiculous” and stated that it was not based on facts or the law. He expressed his intention to appeal the decision. In 2020, eight employees of Paxton’s office reported him to the FBI for bribery allegations, leading to a federal investigation. Although Paxton agreed to settle the lawsuit for $3.3 million, the state House rejected the request and conducted its own investigation.
The U.S. Justice Department decided not to pursue its investigation into Paxton in the final weeks of the Biden administration. Despite the legal challenges and controversies surrounding him, Paxton continues to serve as the Texas Attorney General. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting whistleblowers and holding public officials accountable for their actions.
