Texas AG Ken Paxton Picked Fight With Colorado County to Help Friend

Three weeks ago, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent out a press release that seemed weird, but not too weird. The attorney general, never one to avoid a fight with the federal government or any of Texas' 49 fellow states, had a problem with an order issued by a Colorado county demanding nonresident homeowners get out during the coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to an exclusive Associated Press report published Wednesday, we now have a better idea about why Paxton got in the fight.

According to the AP, Paxton's decision "stood to benefit an exclusive group of Texans, including a Dallas donor and college classmate who helped Paxton launch his run for attorney general and had spent five days trying to get a waiver to remain in his $4 million lakeside home."

The college roommate's name is Robert McCarter. McCarter's neighbors in Crested Butte, Colorado, are also donors to Paxton and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton.

Paxton framed his quarrel with Gunnison County as a constitutional fight.

“While I applaud several measures Gunnison County has taken to ensure the health and safety of its citizens, the banishment of nonresident Texas homeowners is entirely unconstitutional and unacceptable,” Paxton said on April 9. “To unlawfully prevent Texans from inhabiting or enjoying property that they own, regardless of its location within the U.S., is a blatant violation of our Constitution.”

Read more: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/ken-paxton-colorado-coronavirus-11906513