A coalition of state and national media organizations, including The Texas Newsroom, ProPublica, and The Texas Tribune, has filed a motion in court to unseal the divorce records of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, state Senator Angela Paxton. The media outlets argue that these documents should be accessible to the public, highlighting the importance of transparency for public officials.
On Tuesday, the organizations submitted their plea to intervene in the Collin County district court overseeing the Paxtons’ divorce case. This legal action seeks to reverse a decision made in July that sealed the case records, contending that both Ken and Angela Paxton, being elected officials, are subject to public scrutiny. The media organizations insist that the documents should be available for review and inspection, with only limited exceptions.
“The grounds alleged for divorce and the disposition of property are of substantial public interest because they bear on integrity in public office, potential use of public resources, and transparency in judicial proceedings,” the filing states.
The organizations emphasize that family law cases, including divorce proceedings, are typically presumed public. The Paxtons’ political status in Texas, coupled with Ken Paxton’s recent announcement to run for U.S. Senate, further amplifies the public interest in the case.
Ken Paxton has a long history in Texas politics, having served over a decade in both the Texas House of Representatives and Senate before his election as state attorney general in 2014. Angela Paxton, who was first elected to the Texas Senate in 2018, has also been a notable figure in state politics.
The media coalition’s filing stresses that “where, as here, the parties are not private citizens but elected constitutional officers, the need for transparency is heightened, not diminished.” They argue that allegations that might imply abuse of marital assets, concealment of financial information, or personal conduct inconsistent with public responsibility are not merely private matters; they are of public consequence.
The motion is signed by eight media organizations, including Dow Jones & Co. (publisher of The Wall Street Journal), The Washington Post, Hearst Newspapers (owner of the Austin American-Statesman, Houston Chronicle, and San Antonio Express-News), ProPublica, The Texas Lawbook, the Texas Observer, The Texas Tribune, and The Texas Newsroom.
Angela Paxton filed for divorce in July, alleging adultery against her husband. Following this, she requested that all records in the case be sealed, claiming that doing so would not adversely affect public health or safety. Judge Ray Wheless granted her request mid-July before recusing himself from the case due to undisclosed reasons, although it was noted that he and his wife had previously donated to the Paxtons’ campaigns.
Currently, the case is presided over by Judge Lindsey Wynne. After the divorce news broke, Ken Paxton took to social media platform X, stating that he and his wife “decided to start a new chapter in our lives,” attributing the divorce to the influence of political adversaries. His attorney has filed a general denial of Angela Paxton’s divorce petition.
In their legal motion to unseal the records, the media organizations pointed out that Ken Paxton has faced allegations of misconduct at least six times during his time in office, including fraud, abuse of office, and self-dealing. In 2015, he was indicted on multiple felony charges for allegedly encouraging investors to buy into a tech firm without disclosing his financial interest in it. After years of legal battles, Paxton reached a deal to perform community service in lieu of trial, maintaining his innocence throughout.
In 2023, the Texas House impeached him for alleged official misconduct, with some accusations suggesting he exchanged political favors with a campaign donor linked to a woman he was reportedly having an affair with. Paxton labeled the impeachment a political witch hunt and denied any wrongdoing. Following a trial, the Texas Senate acquitted him, allowing him to return to his position as attorney general.
The media coalition argues that these ongoing and serious allegations raise significant questions about Paxton’s conduct in public office and his fidelity to the law.
The couple’s financial assets, which have come under scrutiny during the impeachment process, are likely to play a central role in the divorce proceedings. The Paxtons have acquired multiple properties across several states but have a history of failing to disclose these acquisitions in state ethics filings.
This summer, after The Texas Newsroom highlighted the lack of transparency regarding their financial disclosures, the couple updated their annual financial statements to include more details about their property holdings. Paxton claimed that the disclosure rules were unclear and that he was only reporting properties linked to bank notes serviced by him or his spouse.
In her initial divorce filing, Angela Paxton requested a disproportionate share of the couple’s assets, seeking exclusive use of their McKinney home while the divorce is pending and exclusive access to her business account. Additionally, she has asked Ken Paxton to admit fault regarding the dissolution of their marriage.
As the situation unfolds, the media organizations continue to advocate for transparency, underscoring the critical role that public accountability plays in fostering trust in elected officials.
