Media Fights to Unseal Ken Paxton's Divorce Records Amid High-Profile Battle

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Divorce Records at Center of Media Battle A group of eight state and national media organizations, including ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, has filed a court plea to unseal records from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's divorce case. The move comes as Paxton seeks the U.S. Senate seat in 2026. The media organizations argue that the sealed records are of public interest, particularly given Paxton's bid for higher office. In their filing with the Collin County district court handling the case, they request that the court reverse a July decision to seal the documents. "We believe that the public has a right to know about the personal and professional conduct of its elected officials," said ProPublica spokesperson Danielle Ivory. "As Attorney General, Ken Paxton is responsible for upholding the law and ensuring transparency in government. It's hypocritical for him to seek to keep his own divorce records secret." Paxton's office has not commented on the media organizations' plea. However, a spokesperson for the Texas Attorney General's office said that the decision to seal the records was made to protect Paxton's family from unnecessary publicity. "The court's decision to seal the records was based on the fact that they contain sensitive and personal information about Mr. Paxton's family," said the spokesperson. "We believe that this is a private matter and should not be subject to public scrutiny." The media organizations argue that the sealed records are relevant to the public's understanding of Paxton's fitness for office. They point out that as Attorney General, Paxton has been involved in several high-profile cases involving government transparency and accountability. "Paxton's actions as Attorney General have a direct impact on the lives of Texans," said Lauren McGaughy, reporter for The Texas Newsroom. "We believe that the public has a right to know about his personal conduct and whether it may be influencing his decisions in office." The court is expected to hear arguments from both sides in the coming weeks. If the media organizations' plea is successful, the sealed records could become public, potentially shedding new light on Paxton's personal life and fitness for higher office. Background: Ken Paxton has been Texas Attorney General since 2015. He announced his bid for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026 earlier this year. The media organizations' plea to unseal the records is part of a larger effort to increase transparency and accountability in government. Additional perspectives: "This is just another example of the media trying to sensationalize a private matter," said a spokesperson for Paxton's campaign. "We believe that the court made the right decision to seal the records, and we will continue to fight for transparency in government." "As a journalist, I believe that the public has a right to know about the personal conduct of its elected officials," said McGaughy. "This is not just about Ken Paxton; it's about the principle of transparency in government." Current status: The court will hear arguments from both sides in the coming weeks. If the media organizations' plea is successful, the sealed records could become public, potentially shedding new light on Paxton's personal life and fitness for higher office. *Reporting by Propublica.*