Fox News host Bret Baier on Thursday highlighted a “long list” of legal scandals concerning Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton, using onscreen bullet points while broadcasting live from the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Texas — with Paxton right beside him.
“Just putting them on the screen here, just so everybody can see,” Baier told Paxton.
The “Special Report” host was interviewing Paxton amid his Texas Senate race against Democratic nominee James Talarico, who has naturally touched on his opponent’s past scandals throughout the campaign, and read them out loud for the audience.
“There was an indictment on security fraud charges in 2015,” said Baier. “Charges drops after reaching a pre-trial agreement. Federal fraud charges announced in 2016. Federal judge dismisses that case in 2017. Accused by staff members in 2020 of accepting bribes.”
He added, “Impeached by the Republican Texas House over accusations of misuse of power. Acquitted by the Texas State Senate of the impeachment articles and ordered to pay four former employees $6.6 million in 2025 for violating Texas Whistleblower Act.”
“I mean, it’s a long list here,” noted Baier before asking Paxton to respond.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Paxton despite the laundry list of accusations against him. His political group has decided to spend $10 million on ads in the Texas Senate race, despite Trump’s enthusiasm for the scandal-plagued candidate appearing to reach some limits.
“Well, look,” Paxton told Baier. “When you’re fighting, they come after you.”
He continued Thursday, “Look at Donald Trump. He had many more indictments than I did. He had two impeachments. I went through a very similar process as him. When you go after things that protect the people of your state, they come after you.”
Paxton went on to note that “none” of the allegations against him have been proven and “were all dismissed, or they’re gone.” His Democratic opponent nonetheless cheekily argued Thursday that Trump might be feeling some “buyer’s remorse” at this point.
“I know the president likes to win,” Talarico told Jimmy Kimmel in an interview released Thursday. “He’s a big winner, and if he wants to be on the winning side in this race, he is welcome to join the movement that we’re building.”