CNS News–In a pivotal decision, the Third Court of Appeals in Austin has ruled that a lawsuit demanding the release of emails from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, including those related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, can proceed. This ruling marks a significant victory for transparency advocates.
American Oversight, a Washington-DC-based nonprofit, initiated the lawsuit after their requests for these records were denied by the state. The organization is seeking to unveil records of public interest, including communications around Jan. 6, 2021. Paxton, who spoke at the pro-Trump rally preceding the Capitol attack, has notably remained silent on the funding of his trip and refused to disclose his communications from that period.
Abbott and Paxton have maintained that their offices hold no communications with NRA officials, and they have cited legal protections to withhold other requested records. Their argument that only the Texas Supreme Court could compel the attorney general in such cases and that no court could force the governor’s hand was rejected by the lower court and now by the appeals court.
A lawsuit that would force Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott to release years of emails, including those about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, can move forward after an appeals court decision Wednesday.https://t.co/ICfYe4Q4ko
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) January 19, 2024
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The court’s decision was delivered by Justices Darlene Byrne, Chari L. Kelly, and Rosa Lopez Theofanis, all Democrats, further underlining the political undertones of this legal battle. The ruling represents a crucial step in holding Texas leaders accountable and ensuring governmental transparency.