Abbott criticizes Paxton in Texas Supreme Court brief, citing missteps

(The Center Square) – Gov. Greg Abbott criticiized Attorney General Ken Paxton in a brief filed with the Texas Supreme Court related to a lawsuit Paxton filed challenging a legal aid program in Harris County. The program is similar to programs Paxton’s office has funded.

Last November, Paxton sued Harris County officials for allocating $1.3 million of taxpayer money for a legal defense fund that supports nongovernmental organizations representing illegal border crossers. The county has operated the fund for five years and this was not the first time funds were allocated.

Paxton says he sued to “stop the left-wing radicals who are robbing Texans to prevent illegals from being deported by the Trump administration.” The county’s expenditures “serve no public purpose and instead constitute unconstitutional grants of public funds to private entities to subsidize the legal defense of ille...