AUSTIN, Texas — Nate Paul, a man whose name has frequently been linked to suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during the course of his impeachment, has been charged on an 8-count federal indictment, KVUE Senior Reporter Tony Plohetski confirmed.
According to the Travis County Sheriff's Office, Paul was booked into the Travis County Jail just before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. The charges against Paul allege multiple financial crimes in 2017 and 2018.
Paul has been a central figure in the impeachment case against Paxton. A whistleblower lawsuit alleged that Paxton helped Paul gain access to investigative documents that were related to the 2019 FBI search of Paul’s business and home.
The whistleblowers also said Paxton ordered a written opinion at 2 a.m. saying the foreclosures of Paul’s properties had to be suspended under pandemic safety rules.
They allege that, in return, Paul donated $25,000 to Paxton's campaign, which ultimately went to remodeling his home and employing Paxton’s mistress.
It is worth noting, however, that Paxton's name is not mentioned in the indictment.
Paul is an Austin-based investor who founded the multibillion-dollar holding company World Class Holdings in 2007. He is one of the largest private real estate owners in the U.S.
But Paul is no stranger to legal and financial issues, including several lawsuits, bankruptcies and foreclosures of his business properties.
In 2018, a nonprofit organization called The Mitte Foundation sued World Class Holdings. The two started a partnership back in 2012 to invest in property in Downtown Austin, but The Mitte Foundation decided to pursue legal action after Paul's company did not produce financial documents.
Paul denied wrongdoing in the lawsuit, but District Judge Jan Soifer ordered him to pay over $100,000 for violating court orders, giving false testimony and lying about money transfers from his bank accounts. Soifer also ordered Paul to serve 10 days in jail, but he was able to avoid serving time.
In the next few years, the company underwent a series of bankruptcies and foreclosures including the $100 million 3M campus.
Paul's arraignment is scheduled for June 26 at 11 a.m. Paul's attorney has said that he will enter a not guilty plea.