Paxton Whistleblower Backs Talarico
Former Paxton Whistleblower David Maxwell Endorses Democrat James Talarico in Senate Race
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Maxwell spent nearly 50 years in Texas law enforcement, serving as a Texas Ranger and a sergeant in the Texas Department of Public Safety before becoming Paxton’s law-enforcement director; he was later inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.
2
Maxwell was one of eight senior aides who reported Paxton to law enforcement in 2020, and the Justice Department ultimately declined to pursue federal charges in the matter.
3
In the new advertisement, Talarico’s campaign calls Maxwell “the best of the best” and says he “knows a bad guy when he sees one.”
4
Maxwell’s endorsement follows a similar endorsement of Talarico by Dan Cogdell, a former member of Paxton’s legal-defense team during the impeachment trial.
5
One recent poll cited by The Hill gave Talarico a 47% to 40% lead over Paxton; the report also said Democrats were leading on generic congressional ballots and that President Trump’s approval rating stood at 38.8%, compared with 56.7% disapproval.
David Maxwell, a former Texas Ranger who spent nearly 50 years in law enforcement, has endorsed Democrat James Talarico in the competitive U.S. Senate race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. News Observer Maxwell was once Paxton's director of law enforcement but turned whistleblower in 2020, reporting the attorney general to the FBI for allegedly abusing his office to benefit campaign donor Nate Paul. Paxton denied wrongdoing and was acquitted in his 2023 impeachment trial, though a civil court later awarded Maxwell and seven other aides roughly $6.6 million.
Maxwell's endorsement marks a rare institutional challenge to Paxton from within law enforcement circles. Talarico's campaign is using the endorsement in a new advertisement, calling Maxwell "the best of the best" and highlighting his testimony against Paxton. Recent polling shows the race tightening, with one survey giving Talarico a 47% to 40% lead. The News Tribune The endorsement follows a similar move by Dan Cogdell, a former member of Paxton's own legal defense team.
A Law Enforcement Career Built on Integrity
Maxwell spent nearly five decades in Texas law enforcement before becoming Paxton's law-enforcement director. He served as a Texas Ranger and sergeant in the Texas Department of Public Safety. His credentials earned him induction into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, making him one of the state's most respected law enforcement figures. That background gives his whistleblower allegations unusual weight in a traditionally Republican state.
The 2020 Whistleblower Complaint and FBI Investigation
In 2020, Maxwell and seven other senior Paxton aides reported the attorney general to the FBI. They alleged Paxton abused his office to benefit real estate developer Nate Paul, a major campaign donor. The Justice Department ultimately declined to pursue federal criminal charges. Bradenton Paxton maintained his innocence throughout the investigation. The lack of federal charges might have ended the matter, but the story did not stop there.
Paxton Acquitted but Loses Civil Case
The Texas Senate, controlled by Republicans, acquitted Paxton during his 2023 impeachment trial. He faced no criminal conviction. However, a civil court later awarded the whistleblowing aides roughly $6.6 million in damages. Tri-City Herald Paxton did not appeal the civil judgment. The outcome highlights how different legal systems—federal criminal, state impeachment, and civil court—can reach different conclusions about the same conduct.
Why Maxwell's Endorsement Matters for Talarico
Maxwell's endorsement reframes the race beyond partisan lines. He testified under oath at Paxton's impeachment trial and has no partisan history of attacking Republicans. Mahoning Matters By backing Talarico, Maxwell shifts the debate from typical party politics to questions of integrity and law enforcement conduct. Talarico's campaign seizes on this in advertising, portraying the choice as one between trustworthiness and abuse of power. One recent poll showed Talarico leading Paxton 47% to 40%, suggesting the strategy may be resonating.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
12
Articles
78
Reach
90
A
AnonymousAuthor
