By Brad Brooks
(Reuters) – FBI agents on Thursday arrested a real estate developer at the center of allegations that led to the removal of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, prison records show.
Nate Paul was incarcerated in the Travis County Jail in Austin after his arrest, according to online prison inmate records, which indicated he was there on undisclosed federal charges.
The FBI declined to comment. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It was not immediately clear if Paul had legal representation. Calls and emails to Paul’s company – World Class Holdings – were not returned.
Paxton, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump whose lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results was dismissed by the Supreme Court, was impeached May 27 and temporarily suspended from office pending trial in the Senate.
The articles of arraignment against him accuse Paxton of involving employees of the attorney general’s office in a lawsuit against Paul, 36, giving the developer documents related to an FBI investigation against him and having provided numerous legal favors to Paul in exchange for his renovating Paxton’s house.
Paxton, 60, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Along with his impeachment, he faces a separate corruption investigation by the Justice Department, according to Texas special prosecutors leading his state case.
The Texas Senate will try Paxton on the 20 articles of impeachment filed against him no later than August 28. I
If two-thirds of the 31 senators find him guilty, he will be removed from office. Otherwise, it will be reinstated. Paxton’s wife, Angela, is a senator and House Republican caucus chair. She has not yet said whether she will recuse herself from her trial.
(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Sonali Paul)