Texas will pay $6.6 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit filed by four former deputies of Attorney General Ken Paxton, after Paxton dropped his appeal in the case.
The settlement resolves a legal dispute that began in 2020 when the former aides alleged they were wrongfully terminated after reporting Paxton to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The lawsuit cited violations of the Texas Whistleblower Act.
Travis County District Judge Catherine Mauzy ruled in favor of the former employees, concluding their firings were in retaliation for reporting alleged misconduct.
Although the settlement has been agreed upon, it still requires approval from the Texas Legislature. Lawmakers must authorize the funding either in an upcoming special session or the next regular session before payments can be issued.
Paxton’s office has faced multiple legal challenges during his time in office. While he was acquitted in an unrelated impeachment trial last year, this whistleblower case remained a significant legal matter for his administration.
The four whistleblowers—David Maxwell, Ryan Vassar, Blake Brickman, and Mark Penley—were among Paxton’s top aides. They claimed they were fired or forced out after raising concerns about Paxton’s alleged abuse of office.
The decision to drop the appeal and settle the case ends years of litigation and public scrutiny. Legal analysts say the case underscores protections offered under the Texas Whistleblower Act and highlights the risks faced by public employees who report misconduct.
Paxton has not publicly commented on the decision to withdraw the appeal.
