Fact Check: Was Ken Paxton indicted, impeached and accused of bribery before Senate primary victory?

WASHINGTON, DC: Online rumors surrounding Ken Paxton have resurfaced following his high-profile victory in the 2026 Texas Republican Senate primary, with viral posts claiming he was indicted, impeached and accused of bribery before his Senate win.

Paxton has emerged as a major national political figure after defeating longtime Senator John Cornyn in a race strongly boosted by President Donald Trump’s endorsement. As the claims spread widely online, here’s a fact check of the viral rumor.

Claim: Ken Paxton was accused of bribery before Senate win

A post shared by the campaign team of James Talarico shortly after Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the May 26 Republican primary runoff reignited scrutiny over Paxton’s past legal controversies.

The post featured Paxton’s 2015 mugshot and referenced his indictment on three felony securities fraud charges, allegations that former staff members reported him to the FBI for bribery, and his 2023 impeachment by the Republican-led Texas House on corruption-related charges. Although the Texas Senate later acquitted him, the post framed Paxton’s Senate nomination as controversial.

The X post stated, “This is Ken Paxton’s mugshot. He was indicted on 3 felony counts for investment fraud. He was reported to the FBI by his own staff for bribery. He was impeached by his own party for corruption. Now he’s the Republican nominee for US Senate in Texas. Together we will stop him.”

Talarico, the Democratic nominee in the Senate race, positioned the election as an opportunity to prevent Paxton from reaching the US Senate. Meanwhile, Paxton’s supporters argued that the securities fraud case ended without a conviction through a pretrial agreement that included restitution and community service.

At the time of writing, the post had garnered more than 495,000 views and over 1,400 comments. Many users debated whether Paxton had ever been convicted or removed from office over the allegations, while others questioned the outcome of the felony securities fraud case.

Fact Check: The claims against Ken Paxton are true

The claims surrounding Ken Paxton’s indictment, impeachment and bribery allegations are true. Before emerging as a major US Senate candidate, Paxton faced multiple legal and political controversies during his tenure as Texas attorney general, including felony securities fraud charges, accusations of bribery and abuse of office, and impeachment by the Texas House of Representatives.

In 2015, authorities indicted Paxton on three felony securities fraud charges. The case remained unresolved for nearly nine years before prosecutors dismissed it in 2024 after Paxton completed a pretrial intervention program. 

In 2020, several of Paxton’s senior aides reported him to the FBI, accusing him of abusing his office to benefit an Austin real estate developer. The aides alleged that the donor provided Paxton with financial favors, campaign contributions and home renovations in return.

The controversy intensified in May 2023 when the Republican-led Texas House overwhelmingly voted to impeach Paxton on 20 articles that included allegations of bribery and obstruction of justice. 

However, during the September 2023 impeachment trial, the Texas Senate failed to reach the two-thirds majority required for conviction. As a result, senators acquitted Paxton on all charges, allowing him to remain in office.