Texas AG Abruptly Ends and Exits Law Enforcement Presser Early After Reporters Press Him on Voter Fraud

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) skedaddled out of a press conference pertaining to the state’s law enforcement Tuesday after reporters asked questions about claims he used an address he did not live at to vote, potentially an act of voter fraud.

Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, who Paxton is running against, immediately seized on the claim.

Paxton initially attempted to evade the questions.

“Can we keep this to law enforcement today?” he asked a reporter. After the reporter told him he was simply “giving you the opportunity to answer that question,” Paxton answered, “I’d like to… we’re here with the sheriffs, I’d like to keep today to law enforcement. So that’s what I’m gonna answer, questions about law enforcement.”

“So we’re just gonna do questions on law enforcement today because we’re joined with 22 amazing law enforcement officers,” a spokesperson for Paxton told a second reporter.

Paxton then said, “You guys don’t have any, that’s fine, I can move on.”

“You went through a whole list of problems that you had with Talarico,” a reporter in the room answered. “And, I mean, what is your main takeaway for voters who are undecided? Right now, the polls are neck-and-neck. So what is your main message to the voters?”

“Tell them there’s a clear difference between the two. I’ve supported law enforcement; I mean, I’ve supported giving them the resources that they need, protecting them from political attacks, which have been many over the last decade,” Paxton said. “And he’s done everything to take that away. He’s tried to take away funding. He’s supported efforts with his own money to defund the police in Austin. His voting record is abysmal as it relates to law enforcement and protecting our communities. He’s done everything he can to hurt the safety of our communities. I’ve done everything I can to make sure that our communities are safer.”

As Paxton’s spokeperson stepped in to end the press conference, another reporter said she had a question for the candidate. “Can we not have more than one person answer a question?” she followed up as Paxton moved to exit the room.

The reporter noted Talarico’s campaign is focused on affordability issues like childcare while he’s highlighting law enforcement. “Is public safety the priority over that other issue? Do you have comments on that?” she asked.

A frustrated Paxton answered, “I’d say they’re both important. Just because we focus on public safety doesn’t mean we don’t care about it.”

Paxton announced a tip line voters in Texas can use to report suspected voter fraud only two weeks before this year’s midterms, The Texas Tribune reported this month.

“Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of a thriving republic, and with the authority granted to my office by the Legislature, we will stop at nothing to uncover and stop any illegal voting activity,” Paxton said in a February statement.

He is now accused of using an address he does not live at to vote in six elections in the last two years, including this year’s runoff race that landed him the Republican nomination for Senate. Per the Tribune, divorce documents filed by his ex-wife, State Sen. Angela Paxton, indicate he has not lived in their formerly shared home for the last two years. It’s not known where he has been living.

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