AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ top criminal court is taking a case that could decide whether the prosecution of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton on securities fraud charges continues.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals agreed Wednesday to consider whether special prosecutors are owed more than $200,000 for trying to bring Paxton to trial on felony charges of misleading investors.
Prosecutors have threatened to quit unless they’re paid.
Paxton has pleaded not guilty. His trial has been repeatedly postponed and a new date hasn’t been set.
Prosecutors are charging $300 hourly. But county officials footing the bill in Paxton’s hometown have challenged that fee as exorbitant.
Earlier this year, a federal judge dismissed similar fraud charges against Paxton. The alleged fraud occurred before Paxton took office in 2015. He’s running for re-election next year.