Paxton gets no pardon before Trump leaves

President Donald Trump left office Wednesday without granting a preemptive pardon to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ending speculation about whether Trump would reward a key ally who is under FBI investigation.

Paxton, who devoted considerable effort to protecting and advancing Trump’s policies via lawsuits and other means — including a late bid to overturn 2020 election results — was accused of official misconduct, including bribery and misuse of office, by several top aides in late September and early October.

That prompted an ongoing FBI investigation and speculation that Trump might reward Paxton as he has other supporters, including pardons granted to former strategist Steve Bannon, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and longtime political adviser Roger Stone.

Paxton, however, has said he did not request a pardon, and his name was not on a list of 73 people pardoned late Tuesday night or one final pardon announced in the closing minutes of Trump’s presidency.

Because presidential pardons forgive only federal offenses, action by Trump would have had no impact on three state felonies pending against Paxton since 2015, alleging securities law violations in private business deals. Those criminal cases have been mired in appeals from defense lawyers and prosecutors, and no trial date is set.