FBI subpoenas Texas attorney general Ken Paxton amid whistleblower allegations

FBI is investigating allegations of bribery and abuse of authority against Texas attorney general

File: The FBI began investigating Texas attorney general in October after a rebellion by his top deputies who accused him of breaking the law by using his office to help a wealthy donor with a troubled real estate developer Nate Paul  (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

The FBI has served subpoenas on the office of the Texas attorney general, as part of an ongoing investigation over allegations of bribery and abuse of authority to benefit a wealthy donor.  

Federal law enforcement officials on Wednesday visited the office of Attorney General Ken Paxton, though it was not immediately clear how many subpoenas were issued, or the information that the agents sought, according to the Austin American Statesman.

The FBI began investigating the matter early in October after a rebellion by Mr Paxton’s top deputies, who accused him of breaking the law by using his office to help a wealthy donor, real estate investor Nate Paul.

The main accusation against Mr Paxton is that he hired an outside lawyer to investigate the developer’s allegations that the FBI improperly searched his home and offices last year.

Each of his deputies who levelled the allegations against their boss has resigned, been put on leave or been fired since reporting him.  

Mr Paxton, the top law enforcement official of Texas, has denied the allegations and has refused calls to resign, saying that he is prepared to fight it out in court.  

Mr Paxton, who recently took the lead in a long-shot legal bid to overturn the 2020 election defeat of President Donald Trump, invited speculation from Democrats over whether the two issues were linked.

"This was an act of some bizarre-world desperation. I don't know what drove it," Marc Elias, the lead attorney for the Democrats fighting the barrage of election lawsuits by the Trump campaign team, said in an appearance on CNN.

"I don't know if it's politics, or I read that it may be because Paxton is fishing for a pardon," Mr Elias said. "I don't know what's behind it, but this is honestly a bizarre lawsuit."

The president has been accused of using his pardon power to reward those loyal to him. In late November, Mr Trump pardoned retired general Michael Flynn, a loyal ally who had pleaded guilty in 2017 of lying about his interactions with Russian officials ahead of Mr Trump's inauguration.