Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that his office has “opened an investigation into reports that organizations operating in Texas may be unlawfully registering noncitizens to vote in violation of state and federal law.”

A recent “undercover operation” by investigators from the AG’s Election Integrity Unit “has already confirmed that various nonprofit organizations have been located outside Texas Department of Public Safety Driver License offices, operating booths offering to assist in voter registration for persons doing business at the driver’s license offices.” That’s suspicious, Paxton insists in a press release, because “all citizens have already been presented an opportunity to register to vote as part of the process of renewing or being issued an identification card or driver’s license, so there is no obvious need to assist citizens to register to vote outside DPS offices — calling into question the motives of the nonprofit groups.”

So obviously, Paxton’s press release implies, these organizations have nefarious intentions and are trying to get noncitizens registered to vote.

Paxton claims that “Texans are deeply troubled by the possibility that organizations purporting to assist with voter registration are illegally registering noncitizens to vote in our elections. If eligible citizens can legally register to vote when conducting their business at a DPS office, why would they need a second opportunity to register with a booth outside?

“My office is investigating every credible report we receive regarding potential criminal activity that could compromise the integrity of our elections,” he continued, adding that the “Biden-Harris administration has intentionally flooded our country with illegal aliens, and without proper safeguards, foreign nationals can illegally influence elections at the local, state, and national level.”

Paxton also said “any wrongdoing will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” and that the investigation is “ongoing.”

Paxton was himself indicted on federal securities fraud charges before his first election to the OAG. He managed to avoid trial — and the possibility of decades in prison — in March by agreeing to pay restitution, perform 100 hours of public service and take 15 hours of legal ethics courses. He did not, however, have to enter a plea.

Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives in the summer of 2023 and remains under investigation by federal authorities on accusations of abuse of office and more.

— Tammye Nash