Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, State Senator Angela Paxton, are under investigation after public records revealed they listed three separate homes as their “primary residence” on mortgage applications - one near Dallas and two in Austin.
Designating a property as a primary residence can qualify homeowners for lower interest rates and other financial benefits. By making that claim on multiple properties, the Paxtons may have saved tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loans. Records also show the couple claimed homestead tax exemptions on two different homes at the same time, which violates Texas law.
Legal experts say knowingly misrepresenting a primary residence on mortgage paperwork can be considered fraud, both at the state and federal level. They also note that as the state’s top law enforcement officer, Paxton should be well aware of those legal boundaries.
The revelation comes at a politically sensitive moment for Paxton, who is campaigning to unseat U.S. Senator John Cornyn in next year’s Republican primary. It also draws attention as other public officials across the country face scrutiny for similar mortgage practices.
So far, the Paxtons have not commented, and no charges have been filed.
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