Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, Texas State Senator Angela Paxton (R), have agreed to unseal their divorce case following requests from multiple media organizations seeking public access to the records.
According to an order signed by an attorney for both parties, the Paxtons consented to allowing the court to "restore full public access to the case file." The presiding judge must still approve the order to take effect, and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday.
Angela Paxton filed for divorce in July, alleging adultery. Shortly after filing, she requested that the court seal the records associated with the case. A previous judge granted that request, placing the entire case file under seal.
Ken Paxton supported the decision at the time, arguing that media coverage amounted to an unfair invasion of his personal life.
The move to unseal the records comes after eight media organizations, including the Texas Newsroom, along with the nonpartisan nonprofit Campaign for Accountability, formally requested public access.
The group argued that the records should not remain sealed because Paxton is an elected official running for higher office and has faced repeated allegations of misconduct during his time in public service.
The divorce proceedings involve financial matters that have been central to past allegations against the attorney general. Paxton's finances have played a role in multiple investigations and accusations of corruption over his nearly decade-long tenure as Texas's top law enforcement officer. While he has been charged with several crimes during his time in statewide office, Paxton has never been convicted.
Ken Paxton is currently challenging U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R) for his senate seat. As the case moves forward, the unsealing of the divorce records is expected to draw increased public attention to both his personal life and his long-standing legal and ethical controversies.
With the couple's agreement now in place, the court will determine whether the records will soon become accessible to the public.
