Texas Attorney General Faces Lawsuits Over Reporting Rules

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing legal challenges from five district attorneys who oppose a new rule implemented by his office.

The lawsuits, as reported by the Texas Tribune, claim that Paxton’s reporting rules enable his office to access district attorneys’ records. Two cases filed in Travis County District Court seek to overturn these new regulations. According to the district attorney involved, this rule represents an unconstitutional overreach and would place an undue burden on the office—requiring the submission of “terabytes” of data to the attorney general’s office.

These rules, which took effect in April, apply specifically to counties with populations exceeding 400,000. Paxton’s office framed the regulation as a measure designed to “restrain fraudulent district attorneys” who do not adhere to existing laws. District attorneys in Travis and El Paso Counties have united for one lawsuit, while those in Harris, Dallas, and Bexar Counties have collaborated for another. Both legal actions argue that Paxton’s enforcement of these rules breaches state constitutions and federal law.

On Friday, Paxton addressed the situation, stating, “It’s not surprising that the Rogue district attorneys would focus more on keeping violent offenders on the streets rather than on transparency and accountability.” He insisted, “My DA reporting rules are straightforward and aim to shed light on local officials who refuse to take responsibility for public safety. This lawsuit is a sad, desperate attempt to conceal information from the public they’re supposed to protect.”

In 2023, Breitbart News highlighted that billionaire George Soros invested over $40 million to support district attorneys aligned with a decriminalization agenda across the United States, including some in Texas.

The report noted that 21 prosecutors backed by Soros have been ousted since 2022 in favor of those labeled as “criminal-risky.” It also mentioned that, as of June 2022, there were approximately 75 independent prosecutors across the nation, with criticisms suggesting their strategies were failing to curb rising crime waves, a sentiment echoed by voters and even some within the Democratic Party.

This legal situation comes as Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has reportedly been considering a primary challenge against Paxton to retain his position.