Attorney General Paxton sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell expressing significant concerns with Nancy Abudu, who has been nominated by President Biden to be a Circuit Judge for the Atlanta-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. In the Alabama-led letter, a coalition of attorneys general highlighted Abudu’s lengthy track record of disparaging Americans, associating herself with “radical movement legal activists” who view policing as “the true […]
Attorney General Paxton
Paxton Seeks Injunction to Stop Unlawful Enactment of $1.7 Trillion Omnibus Bill
Attorney General Paxton filed a motion for preliminary injunction to stop part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 from being implemented. The initial lawsuit challenging the law as unconstitutional was filed and announced by Paxton in February. Under the Constitution, if more than half of its members are absent, the House of Representatives lacks a quorum and may only “adjourn from day to day” or “compel the attendance of absent members.” In December 2022, while more than half the members were physically absent from the Capitol, the omnibus bill passed the House only because then-Speaker Nancy […]
Paxton Shuts Down Biden Administration “Judge Shopping” Efforts in Lawsuit to Stop ESG Rule
Attorney General Paxton has secured a noteworthy victory in his lawsuit against the Biden Administration’s Department of Labor rule that puts Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) investing ahead of the long-term financial security of retirees. “This is an important victory in my ongoing fight to protect Texas from an unconstitutional Biden Administration rule that exposes retirees’ savings to politically-motivated ESG investing in violation of federal law,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Biden’s lawyers attempted to ‘judge shop’ by requesting to change the venue of the trial to Washington, D.C. instead of the […]
Investigation by Paxton’s Medicaid Fraud Unit Results in $1.1M in Restitution to Health Care Programs
An investigation by Attorney General Paxton’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has led to the sentencing for health care fraud of two individuals in federal court in Del Rio, Texas. Melody Ann Villarreal and Oscar Gutierrez, Jr. were both found guilty of submitting fraudulent run sheets for ambulance transports that did not occur and submitting them to both Medicare and Medicaid for payment. Villarreal and Gutierrez were ordered to pay $907,376.41 in restitution to Medicare and $218,651.23 […]
Paxton’s Criminal Prosecutions Division Secures Conviction for Man who Shot and Killed a Family of Three
Attorney General Paxton’s Criminal Prosecutions Division has helped prosecute and secure the conviction of Robert Allen Satterfield for capital murder, in the 329th District Court of Wharton County. Assistant Attorney General Natalie Tise and legal assistant Michael Roberts aided Wharton County District Attorney Dawn Allison and Wharton County Assistant District Attorney Lance Long in trying this case. Satterfield was charged with the June 10, 2018, murder of Ray Shawn Hudson, Jr., a 4-year-old boy who […]
Paxton Sends Message to Joe Biden and Antony Blinken Demanding that Violent Mexican Drug Cartels be Designated and Treated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Attorney General Paxton has joined a Virginia-led multistate coalition in sending a letter to Joe Biden and Antony Blinken requesting that violent Mexican cartels be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Mexican cartels are a main driver in the distribution of fentanyl and have used extreme violence to achieve their ends. Their heinous acts have caused the deaths of thousands of Americans—both directly and indirectly. The letter specifically references the actions of the Sinaloa Cartel […]
Paxton Defends Florida Law that Prevents Biological Males from Competing in Women’s Sports
Attorney General Paxton has joined an Alabama-led amicus brief in support of a Florida law designed to protect and bolster women’s sports by preventing biological males from competing against females. Florida is being sued over the law, and the State has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The amicus brief submitted by the multistate coalition supports Florida’s motion and the State’s law, as well as the long-standing biological definition of sex. The coalition argues […]
Paxton Denounces Biden’s Unconstitutional Call for the Banning of Certain Firearms Used Every Day by Law-Abiding Americans
Attorney General Paxton has joined a Montana-led letter to President Biden condemning his unconstitutional decision to call for an “assault weapons” ban during his State of the Union Address. Joe Biden has shown an alarming disregard for the Constitution throughout his presidency, and this recent call to disarm the millions of Americans who rely on these so-called “assault weapons” to defend their homes and their families is no exception. To support that call, President Biden […]
Paxton Fights to Stop Large Outside Groups from Receiving More than Victims in Class Action Cases
Attorney General Paxton has joined two Montana-led cert-stage amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing against advocacy groups receiving large funds in settlement cases when the victims receive little or nothing. At issue are cy pres awards, which are awards often granted to non-class third-party advocacy organizations when courts decide that they can do more for a class than the class members could do for themselves. In the case of William Yeatman v. Kathryn Hyland, et al., despite evidence showing that funds could be distributed to class […]
Paxton Fights to Stop Large Outside Groups from Receiving More than Victims in Class Action Cases
Attorney General Paxton has joined two Montana-led cert-stage amicus briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing against advocacy groups receiving large funds in settlement cases when the victims receive little or nothing. At issue are cy pres awards, which are awards often granted to non-class third-party advocacy organizations when courts decide that they can do more for a class than the class members could do for themselves. In the case of William Yeatman v. Kathryn Hyland, et al., despite evidence showing that funds could be distributed to class […]