UPDATE: New Texas Attorney General Responds to Criminal Allegations

Update:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s spokesman says a special prosecutor handling the criminal investigation into Paxton has turned the case into a “political hit-job” in the media.

The statement released Thursday comes one day after special prosecutor Kent Schaffer announced he would present a grand jury with evidence of first-degree felony securities fraud against Paxton.

The attorney general’s spokesman, Anthony Holm, says Schaffer is attempting to try the case in the media and warns that his actions may influence the grand jury.

Paxton was fined $1,000 last year for investment advising without registering. A judge in May then widened the investigation into Paxton. Schaffer said Wednesday that Texas Rangers uncovered new evidence involving more than $100,000.

Schaffer says he’ll present evidence to a Collin County grand jury within a few weeks.

Original story:

DALLAS (AP) — A special prosecutor says he plans to present a North Texas grand jury with evidence of first-degree felony securities fraud against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

In an interview Wednesday with WFAA-TV of Dallas-Fort Worth, special prosecutor Kent Schaffer said he planned to present the evidence to a Collin County grand jury within the next few weeks.

A first-degree felony conviction is punishable by up to life in prison.

Schaffer says the Texas Rangers uncovered new evidence during its investigation of allegations that Paxton broke state securities laws. Schaffer says the new allegations involve amounts well in excess of $100,000.

The station also reported Paxton hired Joe Kendall, a former federal district judge in Dallas, to defend him.

Paxton was fined $1,000 last year for investment advising without registering.

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