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Message: [QUOTE="Shamiso, post: 93919, member: 160"] Ken Paxton has racked up more than $3.1 million in taxpayer-funded travel security costs. The Texas attorney general has made roughly 350 trips beyond state lines since taking office in 2015. His guards have followed him across nearly 225 cities, with 25 trips abroad. Even a harsh winter crisis did not keep him in Texas. Millions lost power while the Republican and his wife headed for Utah. Later, lawyers seeking his testimony in a fraud case had to deal with his travels through Europe. Iceland and London also made his itinerary during his Senate race. And the list goes way past local trips. South Africa, India, and Aruba all appear in his travel records. Park City and New Orleans got repeat visits. One year alone saw his security bill pass $483,000, while other travel costs fell outside that figure. Here's the catch. Texas lets its top officials keep state guards on personal trips. Former security officer Arnold Alejandro said leisure and work often blend on such visits. A separate probe found a clear work reason for just one out of every six places on Paxton's security logs. For perspective, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has run up over $5.4 million in protection costs during the same span. Still, former attorneys general group official Chris Toth viewed Paxton's travel as far beyond the norm, given the demands of his job. Israel was a pricey stop. A visit with six fellow attorneys general cost close to $75,000 for his security team, despite local guards already protecting the group. Toth said Paxton also chose a separate car. Then came the Kentucky Derby. A $13,235 security tab went with a Louisville visit where Paxton appeared beside Tracy Duhon, a Christian influencer he is dating. His wife, Angela, later sought divorce and alleged infidelity. State safety officials defended the travel charges as valid under agency rules. Some overseas trips never showed up in the security records. China was one, with staff said to have warned him about state spying. Qatar was another. Dubai drew fresh heat after video placed him at a party with two people facing federal fraud charges. His campaign gave no answer on the funding. Washington raised its share of questions as well. Paxton spoke at a rally tied to Donald Trump's bid to contest his election loss. When senators pressed him on who funded the visit, he said he had paid nothing himself. Security logs showed about $7,000 for a trip there, but did not confirm a rally link. Wealthy allies have helped with far more than vacations. Around 50 donors supplied $730,000 for his defense against securities-fraud claims. One $100,000 gift from an executive facing a health care fraud probe sparked bribery concerns. The inquiry stopped after lawyers cited a prior personal tie. Paxton later secured dismissal of the charges without admitting guilt. Other perks have ranged from private flights and event passes to fishing outings and hotel stays. Grammy Awards tickets even entered the mix. During an impeachment probe, former aides also raised concerns about gifts and favors. One accused him of putting a $600 jacket on a conference host's bill. The impeachment case focused on claims that Paxton helped a donor with legal issues after that person funded lavish work at his house. Texas senators cleared him. One aide recalled receiving a request about the donor's case while Paxton was at a resort in Mexico. James Talarico, his Democratic Senate rival, has made the spending a campaign issue. He points to a property collection valued near $9 million, spread across at least 15 sites. A $1,000 pen taken from a court security checkpoint has also become part of the criticism. His holdings span four upscale Utah condos, three Florida houses, and Hawaiian land. Pictures show visits to a Palm Beach charity gala and an elite South Carolina golf property. Dallas-area tailor Jay Lombardo has also described helping Paxton build a fine wardrobe. Talarico's financial forms paint a different picture. No gifts were listed during his public service. His reported earnings came to about $51,500 for legislative work and $33,000 from consulting across the stated period. He disclosed mutual funds, a book agreement without a stated value, and one property. Yet Paxton has supporters who care more about his record. Republican Sen. Bob Hall argues that his legal wins matter far more than his habits. Fellow Republican Robert Nichols, who voted against him at impeachment, thinks voters deserve clear answers about the trips. Polls suggest a close Senate contest in a state Democrats have failed to win for over 30 years. Paxton, meanwhile, has stressed his modest childhood in a trailer near an Air Force base, where his pilot father served. He credits that life with teaching him public service. [/QUOTE]

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