Key Takeaways
- Court documents detailing the divorce of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, have been released to the public.
- The divorce filing cited "biblical grounds" and alleged that Ken Paxton had committed adultery, which he denied in a separate filing.
- The release of the documents is expected to fuel attacks against Paxton in the Republican primary for the US Senate, where he is seeking to unseat Sen. John Cornyn.
- The divorce comes after 38 years of marriage, during which Angela Paxton had supported her husband through various legal troubles and controversies.
- The outcome of the primary, set for March 3, remains uncertain, with Paxton’s support in Texas remaining strong despite his legal troubles.
Introduction to the Divorce Case
The court documents detailing the divorce of Republican US Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, were released on Friday by order of a judge. The release of the documents comes months after Angela Paxton filed for divorce, citing "biblical grounds" and alleging that Ken Paxton had committed adultery. The initial filing showed that Angela Paxton sought the divorce on the grounds that Ken Paxton had committed adultery, but included no additional details. She had previously referenced "recent discoveries" when announcing the filing on social media in July. In a separate filing, Ken Paxton denied the allegations in the divorce petition.
The Release of the Documents
The release of the documents was made possible after a coalition of media outlets came to an agreement with the Paxtons. Judge Robert Brotherton approved the agreement on Friday to release the records, which had been sealed following a request by Angela Paxton shortly after she filed. Another judge signed the agreed order to seal the records. In a filing after media outlets and the nonprofit Campaign for Accountability intervened to have the documents unsealed, Ken Paxton said he was opposed to the documents being publicly released. However, Tyler Bexley, an attorney for the media intervenors, argued that voters have the right to know information about the case as "they are making decisions in the upcoming elections." Bexley told reporters after the judge ordered the documents unsealed, "It’s a victory, I think, for the American public and for the Texas voters."
The Impact on the Senate Primary
The divorce and the surrounding speculation have only fueled attacks against Paxton in one of the nation’s most heated Republican primaries. Paxton is seeking to unseat Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term senator, and the primary is set for March 3. Despite years of controversy, including state and federal corruption investigations, Paxton has remained competitive in the race. The divorce comes after 38 years of marriage, during which Angela Paxton had supported her husband through a series of legal troubles. A state securities fraud indictment against Ken Paxton was dismissed after a 2024 plea deal, and the Justice Department dropped a federal corruption probe earlier this year. Angela Paxton also stood by Ken Paxton’s side during his impeachment trial, which publicly exposed an extramarital affair. The 2023 impeachment trial ended in an acquittal for him.
The Republican Primary
Paxton’s support in Texas has remained strong amid the legal troubles. He won reelection in 2022 by nearly 10 percentage points. However, his candidacy has drawn attacks from Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, with some in the party concerned that while Paxton could prevail in the GOP primary, he may complicate the general election and force national Republicans to spend heavily to hold the seat. Groups supporting Cornyn have spent more than $21 million on television ads this year, according to AdImpact, to promote the four-term senator and attack Paxton. National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said in July, "What Ken Paxton has put his family through is truly repulsive and disgusting. No one should have to endure what Angela Paxton has, and we pray for her as she chooses to stand up for herself and her family during this difficult time."
The Democratic Primary
On the Democratic side, US Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico are facing off in the Democratic Party’s primary. The outcome of the primary remains uncertain, with both candidates vying for the chance to take on the Republican nominee in the general election. The Democratic primary has been relatively quiet compared to the Republican primary, with both candidates focusing on their respective campaigns. However, the release of the divorce documents and the surrounding controversy are expected to have an impact on the general election, with Democrats potentially using the information to attack Paxton’s character and judgment.
Conclusion and Future Implications
The release of the divorce documents and the surrounding controversy are expected to have a significant impact on the Senate primary and the general election. Paxton’s support in Texas has remained strong despite his legal troubles, but the release of the documents and the attacks from his opponents may erode his support. The outcome of the primary and the general election remains uncertain, with many factors at play. However, one thing is certain – the release of the divorce documents has added a new layer of complexity to the already heated Senate primary. As the campaign season heats up, it will be interesting to see how the release of the documents and the surrounding controversy will affect the outcome of the election.