Full Breakdown
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Out-of-State Travel and Security Expenses Under Scrutiny
By Drooid · · How we work
Overview of Trips and Costs
A data analysis of Texas Department of Public Safety records shows that Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken roughly 350 trips outside Texas since his 2015 swearing-in, including 25 trips to foreign nations such as South Africa, India and Aruba. The same analysis indicates that security-detail expenses have exceeded $3.1 million, with a peak of more than $483,000 in 2024. State records do not indicate whether any of the journeys were for official business, and Texas law does not require such justification.
Travel Patterns and Funding Details
Paxton’s itinerary spans about 225 cities, with repeat visits to places like New Orleans and Park City, Utah. A former member of the state security detail, Arnold Alejandro, noted that the detail “goes” regardless of whether the trip is “business or pleasure.” A ProPublica investigation cited by the reporting found that only one-in-six of the logged locations had a documented work-related purpose. Specific outings highlighted in the record include a $13,235 security bill for the Kentucky Derby in May 2024 and a New Year celebration in Dubai with two individuals wanted on federal fraud charges; the latter was reported in a lawsuit and video but the campaign did not disclose who paid for it.
Official Statements & Responses
The Texas Department of Public Safety described the security costs as “appropriate.” Paxton’s office and campaign did not respond to inquiries from the New York Times. Paxton himself has long denied any wrongdoing regarding the travel and expense pattern.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He became a multimillionaire on a government salary,” — James Talarico, Democratic Senate candidate
- “Business or pleasure — security detail goes,” — Arnold Alejandro, former member of the state security detail
- “He always had his hand out,” — David Maxwell, former director of law enforcement
