Paxton’s former law enforcement director, impeachment attorney endorse Talarico

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(The Center Square) – In the race for the U.S. Senate in Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton’s former Director of Law Enforcement and longtime Texas Ranger David Maxwell endorsed his Democratic opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, on Tuesday. 

Maxwell was among several of Paxton’s former staff who reported Paxton to the FBI as whistle blowers alleging Paxton took bribes from convicted felon and real estate developer Nate Paul. After Maxwell went to the FBI, Paxton fired him. 

The whistleblowers’ complaint and testimony were used by prosecutors and Republican House managers during Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial. Paxton is the only attorney general to be impeached in Texas history. He was impeached by 60 House Republicans on 20 counts, The Center Square reported. Paxton pleaded not guilty and was acquitted along party lines in the Texas Senate on Sept. 16, 2023.

On the same day that Maxwell testified against Paxton, three years ago to the day on Tuesday, Maxwell endorsed Talarico. The impeachment trial began Sept. 5, 2023.

“Ken Paxton ended my five-decade career in public service because I blew the whistle on his corruption,” Maxwell said. “In Texas, no one is above the law – not even the Attorney General. Today, I’m endorsing James Talarico because Texans deserve a Senator who serves the people – not a crook who serves himself.”

“Ken Paxton fired his Director of Law Enforcement for enforcing the law against Ken Paxton,” Talarico said. “Those closest to Ken Paxton know he’s unfit for office because he’s not a public servant — he’s a puppet who abuses his office to enrich himself and his donors at the expense of working Texans. Texas Ranger David Maxwell is a decorated law enforcement official who served our state honorably for five decades. Together, we’re building a campaign that will enforce the law and put an end to corruption in Texas.”

Maxwell was first hired by then Attorney General Greg Abbott and stayed on after Paxton was elected in 2014. Paxton took office as the AG and Abbott as the governor in January 2015. Maxwell worked in the Office of Attorney General for nearly 10 years, rising to director of law enforcement, responsible for supervising 350 employees. Prior to joining the OAG, Maxwell served in the Texas Department of Public Safety for 38 years, also serving as a Texas Ranger for 24 years. His nearly 50 years of law enforcement experience involved investigating a range of crimes, including public corruption.

The endorsement came after one of Paxton’s key impeachment defense attorneys, Houston-based trial attorney Dan Cogdell, endorsed Talarico. Cogdell represented Paxton for nearly a decade first hired after Paxton was indicted on security fraud charges in 2015. The charges were later dropped in 2024. 

In his Cogdell Law Uncensored podcast, he said, “I defended Ken Paxton for years in the impeachment trial and in state criminal cases. But in my view, respectfully, I think Ken has lost sight of his core mission, which is to represent the people of Texas. And unlike Ken, I believe to my core, James, that you believe in unity over division and that you know how to assemble not only Democrats, but independents and Republicans – and we need that right now.”

Cogdell had Talarico on the podcast when he endorsed him. He also asked him if he planned to win over Paxton supporters. Talarico replied, “absolutely.”

According to recent polls, Talarico is leading among independents by more than 20 points. Republicans who previously voted for Trump and Republican candidates in border districts say they are now voting for Democrats, including Talarico, The Center Square reported.

Paxton defeated U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in the March Republican primary. Cornyn’s former legislative director, Jacob Smith, was recently hired by Talarico’s campaign as Deputy Policy Director.

When asked to comment on the endorsements, Paxton’s campaign did not respond.

The race is currently rated a toss-up. Some polls have Paxton and Talarico statistically tied, others have Talarico leading by double digits, The Center Square reported.