Paxton Deputies Trade Lawsuits Over Witness Tampering

Former Texas Attorney General deputies Judd Stone and Chris Hilton have filed both a federal lawsuit and a State Bar complaint accusing First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster of attempting to tamper with witnesses during Ken Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial. They claim Webster pressured witnesses to leave Texas to evade subpoenas and threatened termination for unfavorable testimony supporting Paxton. The accusations come amid a separate lawsuit from former employee Jordan Eskew, who alleges Stone and Hilton committed sexual harassment and fostered a hostile work environment—allegations Stone and Hilton deny. Stone and Hilton also assert Webster fabricated harassment claims in retaliation for their complaints and to damage their reputations and business. The mutual allegations have intensified internal conflict within Paxton’s office, drawing public scrutiny as Paxton campaigns for the U.S. Senate. Neither Paxton nor Webster have publicly responded to the most recent accusations.