Lawyer for TX AG's office repeatedly tries to block testimony and evidence at whistleblower hearing

[TexasTowelie]

by Kate McGee, Texas Tribune


The first hearing in a whistleblower lawsuit against the Texas Attorney general’s office mostly consisted of objections Monday as the agency’s lawyer opposed the vast majority of questions lawyers asked two former agency employees who testified.

Attorney William Helfand repeatedly lobbed those protests after he unsuccessfully tried to get the judge in the case to dismiss the lawsuit outright. But Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum said Monday she wasn’t yet ready to determine whether the lawsuit should be dismissed. She instead permitted testimony on a request for a temporary injunction that would allow two of the whistleblowers to have their jobs in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office back.

At one point, Helfand also filed an appeal to halt the temporary injunction testimony from happening.

“It’s starting to feel like you might be just elongating things for the purpose of elongating them rather than actually in good faith responding to arguments,” Meachum told Helfand before she allowed the hearing to continue.

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The four plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement and compensation for lost wages and future loss of earnings. They also are seeking damages for emotional pain and suffering. If they win, the taxpayers will cover most of the litigation costs.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/01/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-whistleblower-hearing/

I wouldn't want to return to my job knowing that I would face a hostile work environment. Most likely those whistleblowers would be assigned to duties that would make them want to leave state employment.