Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on
opponent's past in Texas Senate race
[August 27, 2026]
By JESSE BEDAYN
James
Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, wants to
reveal depositions involving Ken Paxton, his Republican opponent, as
part of an ongoing effort to keep the focus on Paxton's history of
scandals. |
At left, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks in McKinney, Texas,
May 19, 2026, and at right, Texas state Rep. James Talarico, after
voting, in Austin, Texas, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/LM Otero and Eric
Gay,File) |
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The depositions involve a civil case where Unity Resources, a
mineral assets company, was accused of fraud. Paxton was
connected to Unity but not a defendant, and the case was
settled.
Talarico's campaign confirmed it asked a court on Wednesday to
release the documents.
The Democratic state representative is counting on voters
recoiling from past accusations against Paxton, the Texas
attorney general, even though similar tactics have failed in
previous campaigns.
In addition to seeking the depositions, Talarico recently
resurfaced video of Paxton pocketing an expensive pen at a
courthouse security checkpoint. Talarico also has talked about
how Paxton was impeached, although Paxton was later acquitted,
and how he faced criminal charges for securities fraud, which
ended with an agreement with prosecutors involving restitution
payments but no admission of guilt.
Paxton has repeatedly denied allegations against him and, much
like his supporter President Donald Trump, calls them
politically motivated smears. It is an approach that has worked
over the years, including when Paxton defeated incumbent U.S.
Sen. John Cornyn in this year's Republican primary.
Madison Cercy, a spokesperson for Paxton's campaign, said
Talarico's request to the court “is nothing more than a
desperate attempt to hide his own extremism and Texans will see
right through it,” adding that "he's now lying at every turn.”
The Wall Street Journal previously reported the contents of one
deposition, including that Paxton had possibly violated
attorney-client privilege. That was disputed by those involved.
The Journal also reported that Paxton said he could not recall
the answer to a question about 90 times during the deposition.
In a draft of the court filing, lawyers for Talarico's campaign
argued there is “no basis under Texas law or procedure to
withhold them from the public. Keeping them secret violates
Texas’s constitutional guarantee that judicial proceedings be
free and open to public scrutiny.”
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