Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lover ‘deemed unavailable’ to testify at impeachment trial

The woman with whom Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is accused of having an affair won’t be testifying at his impeachment trial.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told the Senate chamber around 5 p.m. that Laura Olson was “deemed unavailable” to take the stand, without elaborating. The announcement came hours after attorneys for House impeachment managers said they intended to call Olson as a witness.

Soon after, attorneys for the House impeachment managers rested their case, passing the proceedings off to Paxton’s lawyers.

Paxton’s counsel swiftly announced they intended to ask for a directed verdict on the articles, which challenges the sufficiency of the evidence presented and could have resulted in an early end to the impeachment proceedings. The Senate stood at ease for awhile, before Patrick announced the request had been withdrawn.

The proceedings resume 9 a.m. Thursday, when Paxton’s team could begin questioning its witnesses.

Earlier in the day, testimony zeroed in on the allegations of bribery against the state’s top law enforcement official. Paxton’s former personal aide, Drew Wicker, recounted on the stand what he knew about renovations to Paxton’s home, which the impeachment articles allege were paid by political donor Nate Paul.

Olson’s testimony would have undoubtedly delved deeper in the allegations of bribery, as Paxton is accused of giving Paul special attention and legal help while accepting favors including a job for Olson.

Paxton has pleaded not guilty to the articles of impeachment, which include disregard of official duty and constitutional bribery.

Much of Wicker’s testimony focused on kitchen counter and cabinet renovations at Paxton’s home. In cross examination, the attorney general’s lawyer disputed the claim that the construction was on donor Paul’s dime. He displayed photos to prove the renovations were never done.

Wicker recalled hearing a conversation between Paxton and his contractor at the Terrytown home. The men were discussing the $20,000 cost of the renovation, Wicker said. Paxton said he’d like to move forward.

The contractor said he would “check with Nate,” Wicker said. Wicker had the impression that Nate Paul was involved in the renovations to Paxton’s home.

“Given the fact that we were working on several items related to Mr. Paul, it felt as though there might be an inappropriate relationship there,” Wicker said.

He brought the concern to Paxton. He said Paxton assured him that wasn’t the case. Wicker said he still felt uneasy after the conversation.

During cross examination, Buzbee showed Wicker two photos of Paxton’s kitchen, one in July 2020 and the other in August 2023.

The counters appeared unchanged, Wicker said.

“Can you agree Drew that your concerns, now have been put to bed, at least with regard to the countertops and the cabinetry?” Buzbee said.

“With regards to those two items, yes sir,” Wicker said.

Buzbee also presented Wicker with financial records to show Paxton paid for the renovations. An attorney for the House impeachment managers questioned the timing of the payment, which occurred around the time whistleblowers went to the FBI.

“Is it fair to say if you knew people were looking into your countertops and your cabinets you might choose at that point, not to get them upgraded?” Erin Epley said.

Buzbee successfully objected to speculation.

Buzbee stressed through his questioning that Wicker would have spent more time with Paxton during the period in question than anyone else. Wicker said he considered Paxton almost like family while working for him and has no animosity toward the Paxtons.

“The Paxtons used to joke that you were a second son, didn’t they?” Buzbee said.

“They did,” Wicker said.

Buzbee asked Wicker if he was accusing the attorney general of bribery, and Wicker replied he isn’t.

Wicker also agreed he wasn’t in the presence of Paul or Paxton when they made “any kind of agreement.” Wicker agreed that he doesn’t have actual knowledge of Paul doing anything for Paxton other than buying him lunch, nor direct knowledge of who paid for the home renovations.

“All you have is one stray comment, right?” Buzbee said.

“Across multiple instances, yes,” Wicker said.

Wicker testified he recalled seeing Paxton with his girlfriend Olson at an Omni hotel where he and the attorney general were staying in the summer of 2020.

Paxton was staying at the hotel while his home was renovated following storm damage, Wicker said. He understood the damage was confined to the master bedroom.

Olson previously worked for state Sen. Donna Campbell, a New Braunfels Republican, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Paxton’s wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, is a Republican representing the McKinney area in the Texas Senate. She is required to be present for the trial, but does not have a vote on whether to convict Paxton, per trial rules.

The trial’s first week focused on hearing from whistleblowers who reported Paxton to the FBI. Some of the former employees sued the attorney general’s office for retaliation, in what is often referred to as a whistleblower lawsuit.

This week, the testimony has branched out to others connected to matters involving Paxton and Paul. That includes Paxton’s former chief of staff, former Travis County District Attorney’s Office officials, an outside lawyer hired to investigate legal complaints by Paul, a former U.S. attorney considered for the outside attorney job, a credit union CEO, and a Mitte Foundation attorney.