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Sen. Angela Paxton’s bill could weaken felony case against her husband

Attorney General Ken Paxton is applauded by his wife Senator Angela Paxton as the 86th State Legislature convenes on January 8, 2019.

Attorney General Ken Paxton is applauded by his wife Senator Angela Paxton as the 86th State Legislature convenes on January 8, 2019.

Photo: Tom Reel, Staff / Staff Photographer

Photo: Tom Reel, Staff / Staff Photographer

Attorney General Ken Paxton is applauded by his wife Senator Angela Paxton as the 86th State Legislature convenes on January 8, 2019.

Attorney General Ken Paxton is applauded by his wife Senator Angela Paxton as the 86th State Legislature convenes on January 8, 2019.

Photo: Tom Reel, Staff / Staff Photographer

Sen. Angela Paxton’s bill could weaken felony case against her husband

AUSTIN — State Sen. Angela Paxton has filed a bill that would expand the authority of her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and perhaps soften the securities law he has been charged with violating.

But Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, says that influencing her husband’s trial was not a factor in proposing the legislation.

“That has literally nothing to do with why I filed the bill,” she said when asked whether her proposal would have shielded her husband, had it been law when he was charged. “That may be hard for you to believe, but that has nothing to do with the purpose of the bill. People in my district brought this bill to me.”

She said she did not talk about the bill with Ken Paxton before filing it Friday: “No, he was not involved in that.”

Senate Bill 860 would create a “regulatory sandbox” allowing entrepreneurs to market test some financial products and services without a license. The attorney general’s office would regulate the sandbox program.

If passed, the legislation would exempt participating entrepreneurs from a portion of the state securities law, which is the basis for one of three pending felony charges against Ken Paxton, also a Republican. He is accused of selling securities without a license in a 2015 grand jury indictment, and faces two other charges of securities fraud. Angela Paxton’s bill does not propose to change the law retroactively.

For subscribers: Texas Attorney General’s delayed fraud trial is Exhibit A in his re-election bid

However, a legal expert consulted by Hearst Newspapers suggested Ken Paxton’s criminal defense strategy could change should the bill become law. His lawyers could try to convince a jury it would be a waste of taxpayer money to convict him for an action that is no longer illegal, said Dwight McDonald, a Texas Tech law professor who practiced in criminal courts in Lubbock.

“I don’t know if a jury would buy that, but it’s certainly something to argue about,” McDonald said.

Political science professor Mark Jones said the optics of the bill are bad for both the Paxtons, and he doubts it will go very far.

“It hurts the Republican brand and any Republican that supports it,” said Jones. “I can’t imagine anyone outside the Paxton household who would think this would be a good idea or that it would ever pass.”

Angela Paxton said one of her constituents, Richardson Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Sproull, asked her to carry the bill. As a leader of Tech Titans, a technology association in North Texas, Sproull said he and others in the group produced research on the idea of a regulatory sandbox to help the financial tech industry.

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“I want policies to help our members innovate quicker,” Sproull said, adding he wants tech entrepreneurs to flock to Texas.

A similar measure has been approved by state lawmakers in Arizona.

Paxton’s bill would give the attorney general’s office more power, which is not uncommon for a state Legislature to do, said Paul Nolette, a Marquette University professor who studies state attorneys general.

But he called the Paxton bill a potential conflict of interest.

“I’m very surprised that she took the lead on this legislation because it’s pretty clear that it doesn’t look good,” Nolette said. “If you took the names away, took “Paxton” away from both of them, this would be pretty unremarkable. There really wouldn’t be much to say.”

Ken Paxton said Tuesday he had not yet read the bill, and referred questions about it to his wife. He said his office does not typically review legislation before lawmakers take it up in committee. The criminal indictment alleges that he convinced friends to invest in a North Dallas tech startup without disclosing he would collect a commission. He also failed to register with the state securities board and later paid a fine, records show.

A federal civil court dismissed similar charges against Paxton, although his trial in state criminal court has been postponed amid a legal fight over payment for the special prosecutors who are building the case against him. He has maintained his innocence and says the indictment was initiated by his foes in the Republican Party.

Angela Smith apologises for 'misspeaking so badly' as Labour splitters hit with racism row two hours after launch

By Aubrey Allegretti, political reporter

An MP who quit Labour as part of a splinter group has apologised for a gaffe during a live TV interview on racism just hours later.

Angela Smith appeared to describe ethnic minority people as having a "funny tinge".

She had been speaking about how a person's race or gender put them at a greater disadvantage, featuring on a panel on the BBC's Politics Live programme.

She said: "I would add to the argument to say that a white working class woman finds life hard enough.

"A BME [Black or Minority Ethnic] working class woman, and this is the gender aspect, will find it even harder. But it's not just about colour, you know.

"The recent history of the party I've just left suggests that it's not just about being black, or, a funny tin- you know, from the BME community."

Some on Twitter said Ms Smith made the comments in reference to those of another panellist, senior editor at Novara Media Ash Sarkar.

Ms Sarkar had been speaking before and described her step dad as "more of a pink-ish colour".

She talked about how a "huge part" of her relationships with her white family members had been "navigating" their "wildly different… experiences".

Image: The MP was one of seven to announce a splinter from Labour

Ms Smith released an apology video hours later, saying she was "very sorry for any offence caused" and "very upset that I misspoke so badly".

"I am committed to fighting racism wherever I find it in our society," the Penistone and Stocksbridge MP added.

Ms Sarkar called it "mealy-mouthed politics of old that these 7 MPs claim to deride".

She continued: "The people who deserve an apology are constituents in Penistone and Stocksbridge.

"They campaigned for a Labour MP, they voted for a Labour MP, and now they've got an opportunist recanting on the manifesto they stood for."

Labour MP Rupa Huq told Sky News: "It was an unfortunate choice of words and she's apologised since, but it looks - at best - probably like some sort of Alf Garnett-esque 1970s outburst when it was ok to say those things."

Ms Smith is among seven Labour parliamentarians who have broken away from the party and set up a new group of independent MPs.

She was joined by Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie and Ann Coffey.

Ms Huq added: "For a party that's trying to project an image of being modern and one of their rationales was being the anti-antisemitism party, this sort of casual racism that carelessly slips out is inexcusable."