AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Already indicted on securities fraud charges, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton now is being investigated for bribery after receiving a hefty donation to his legal defense fund from an executive who recently settled a Medicare fraud suit with the state.
Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley is investigating Paxton under bribery and corruption influence laws because the attorney general accepted a $100,000 donation from James Webb, CEO of Preferred Imaging.
According to the Dallas Morning News, that donation came prior to Webb’s company agreeing last year to pay $3.5 million to settle charges it over billed Texas for services.
Paxton has pleaded not guilty to separate, felony charges of misleading investors. He’s received nearly $550,000 in legal-expense donations.
Paxton spokesman Matt Welch said Paxton’s team has “fully cooperated” with the investigation.
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