Within Texas politics, Ken Paxton has been engulfed in constant scandal and controversy from the outset. Like a cat with nine lives, he always appears to land on his feet. He survived impeachment, reelection, and both state and federal investigations. Regarding fraud allegations, in 2024, he settled with the state for the sum of $300,000 over his involvement in a Dallas tech startup. Late in Biden’s administration, the DOJ ended its probe into Paxton. Overall, Paxton has a decent reputation in the realm of conservatism, where he is generally seen as a reliable AG at the state level and a stalwart on many conservative social issues. Admittedly, some of them are red meat issues like transvestites in sports. Within the MAGA movement, he was active in the aftermath of the 2020 election and has a record of confronting voter fraud. He has a reputation for being a fighter who bucks the establishment.
There might very well be shady business happening with Paxton behind the scenes, but his record is above average on the issues. It is expected that politicians will enrich themselves in the process. Many will overlook a little beak-wetting provided they are being represented on their core issues. However, Ken Paxton’s undoing could be that he was wetting the wrong beak with the wrong woman.
On July 10, Paxton’s wife, Angela, announced her divorce via Twitter/X:
Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds.
I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation. But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage.
I move forward with complete confidence that God is always working everything together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.
The couple has four children. Angela Paxton serves as a state senator in Texas and relied on a $2 million loan from her husband to obtain her seat. Though she does not mention it, the biblical grounds that she is alluding to are adultery on the part of Ken, which has been a known quantity for several years. During Ken Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial, the prosecution brought forth the allegations that he committed adultery with a woman named Laura Olson, something that was supposedly an open secret to the AG’s staffers for years. Olson was given a job by Paxton donor and real estate developer Nate Paul, who allegedly paid for renovations on Paxton’s home. These were included in Articles 9 and 10 of the impeachment as Constitutional Bribery.
The evidence that Paxton committed adultery with Olson is strong, yet it does not constitute “recent discoveries” as Angela Paxton stated. In fact, she was in the room during the September 2023 impeachment trials when these testimonies were presented. Doubtless, she knew before trial of these circumstances.
What is recent is that Ken Paxton is running for US Senate and is primarying Senator John Cornyn. The RCP average has Paxton leading the incumbent senator 48.3% to 33.7% with two of the polls placing him above 50%. Trump has yet to endorse a candidate in this race despite having been critical of Cornyn. This could be a calculated announcement to preclude his endorsement. Trump has a tendency to only endorse frontrunners, so he is unlikely to back Cornyn given his poor poll numbers.
Now, this far out, it is unlikely that this divorce will be enough to sink Paxton, given everything that is public information regarding his illicit sexual relations, yet it is not out of the realm of possibility. After all, Boebert, Greene, and Mace are all Republican women with sex scandals in the US Congress, with the former two having gone through divorce while in office. Meanwhile, Madison Cawthorn did not survive his scandals and made enemies in Congress. Like Cawthorn, Paxton has made enemies in politics and would draw the ire of his fellow senators if he successfully usurps one of their colleagues.
All of this will make the general election a mudslinging contest with the Democrats pouring tens of millions against a scandal-ridden Paxton.
Prestonwood Baptist Church
The church of record for Ken and Angela Paxton is Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX. Prestonwood is a major church in the Southern Baptist Convention, home to Jack Graham and apologist Jeremiah Johnston. The latter is compromised on the issue of IVF, of which he has participated. Prestonwood associate pastor Scott Turner serves as the current HUD Secretary in the Trump Administration. This is a politically influential church, though it is not without its idolatrous Zionism. The Paxtons were involved at this church, with Ken Paxton conducting business with former Prestonwood pastor Mike Buster. He even hired Prestonwood personnel for his staff.
It remains to be seen whether Prestonwood was involved in any reconciliation efforts with the Paxton family or if they will practice church discipline.
Conclusion
Angela Paxton is claiming biblical grounds for divorce, but she further cites Romans 8:28 as guiding her decision to initiate a divorce, something Scripture contends that God hates. It also should be stated that simply because divorce is permissible following adultery does not mean it is advisable. Politically, her entire political career is yoked to Ken Paxton, which transpired during the same period as his adultery, something she cannot divorce herself from in any court of law.
Regarding Ken Paxton, he has a decent record which has warranted his support on the right, yet he is weighed down by his scandals. As the saying goes, pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered, and Paxton, however useful he is politically, is a razorback.
One Response
It may not sink his political career but it may corrupt him, because with all the money he’s going to have to pay his wife he will need more money and so might follow the rest of the senate’s ways. I’ll still vote for him though. Not like I have a real choice. Democrasies and Republics are fake and gay.