AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A top Republican leading efforts that would force convicted officeholders to resign isn’t saying how his bill might apply to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Sen. Van Taylor said Wednesday his sweeping ethics legislation is “bigger than any one case.” Paxton is scheduled to stand trial in May on felony securities fraud charges and faces 5 to 99 years in prison if convicted.
Paxton has pleaded not guilty. Current Texas law doesn’t explicitly say convicted elected officials must step down.
Paxton has signaled he will run for re-election in 2018. Taylor deflected questions about whether his ethics bill would force Paxton to leave office if convicted.
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is backing the bill, which says state elected officials must leave office “the date the conviction becomes final.”
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