AG Paxton Leads 11-State Coalition to Defend the First Amendment on Climate Change Policy Debate
“The Constitution was written to protect citizens from government witch-hunts such as this one, where officials use their authority and the threat of criminal prosecution to try and suppress speech on a viewpoint they disagree with,” Attorney General Paxton said.
OAG’s Child Exploitation Unit Arrests Bastrop County Man for Possession of Child Pornography
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced today that the Child Exploitation Unit (CEU) of his office arrested 40-year-old Jason Matthew Pertolanitz, of Cedar Creek, on one count of Possession of Child Pornography, a third-degree felony. Pertolanitz could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
AG Paxton Defends President Trump’s “1‑in-2-out” Order
“The president’s executive order is an important step towards rolling back years of unnecessary and costly regulations that far exceed congressional intent,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Overregulation has harmed economic growth and job creation. The ”˜1-in-2-out’ order will help restore regulatory authority to Texas and other states on important matters of local concern.”
AG Paxton Leads 15-State Coalition in Support of Revised Immigration Order
“The president’s revised immigration order is constitutional, lawful, addresses the 9th Circuit’s concerns and is a vital step in securing our borders,” Attorney General Paxton said. “A temporary pause in the national refugee program will give the government time to review and determine how we can improve the screening process for foreign nationals seeking to enter the U.S. from six countries designated as ”˜countries of concern.’ President Trump’s revised immigration order is necessary to protect the homeland from those who wish us harm.”
OAG Joins Forces with Local Law Enforcement Agencies to Combat Online Solicitation of Minors in Johnson County
In a crackdown on child predators, the Texas attorney general’s Child Exploitation Unit (CEU) conducted a joint operation with several law enforcement agencies last week, arresting five north Texas men for Online Solicitation of a Minor, a second-degree felony. The collaboration by authorities included the Texas Attorney General’s CEU, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson County STOP Task Force, Cleburne Police Department, Burleson Police Department and Keene Police Department.
Gov. Abbott and AG Paxton Call for Prompt Congressional Passage of the Free Speech Fairness Act
“Since the Johnson Amendment, however, churches have been kept on the sidelines of political debate,” Attorney General Paxton and Gov. Abbott wrote. “The Free Speech Fairness Act will ensure that churches may once again freely participate in government.”
AG Paxton Issues Statement on Executive Order for EPA to Review Clean Power Plan
“President Trump’s executive order is a significant step toward sparing all of us from a potentially disastrous change to the nation’s energy policy that was orchestrated during the Obama era in violation of federal law. The so-called Clean Power Plan would have subjected Americans to higher electricity costs and could have weakened the nation’s power grid. Texas and West Virginia led 22 states in getting the U.S. Supreme Court to block the plan. We’re heartened by the president’s latest action, which shows he’s serious about returning common sense and the rule of law to the EPA. And we look forward to the EPA returning to the cooperative approach with the states that the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act expressly require as it reconsiders the unlawful Clean Power Plan.”
AG Paxton Files Petition to End Illegal Sale of Synthetic Drugs by San Antonio Shop
Today, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a petition in Bexar County District Court seeking a temporary restraining order as well as a temporary and permanent injunction against Stop by Mart and its owner, Sung Kyu Choe, for violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The petition alleges that Choe sold synthetic marijuana and knowingly deceived consumers by labeling the highly dangerous drug as legal and safe.
AG Paxton Leads 13-State Coalition in Amicus Brief Supporting President Trump’s Revised Immigration Order
“Rather than leaving national security in limbo while litigation dragged on, President Trump issued a revised immigration order that addresses the 9th Circuit’s concerns and is a vital step in securing our borders,” Attorney General Paxton said. “It is imperative we find a way to better screen refugee applicants to maintain national security. The president is fulfilling his solemn duty to protect Texans and all Americans.”
AG Paxton Seeks to Intervene into Lawsuit Challenging Federal Methane Rule
“This is yet another case of gross federal overreach in which the Bureau of Land Management exceeded its legal authority, bypassing Congress to implement an unlawful rule on methane gas,” Attorney General Paxton said. “The regulation has negligible environmental benefit and adds additional cost to both Texas and the oil and gas industry by creating more red tape.”