Married Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton allegedly had an affair with a woman he later recommended for a job with a wealthy donor he is accused of criminal corruption with

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton allegedly had an extramarital affair with a woman whom he later recommended for a job with a wealthy donor.

Paxton acknowledged the affair in 2018 to senior members of his office and political staff, according to two people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

They said Paxton told them that he had ended the affair with the woman, who at the time worked for a GOP state senator.

In a deposition this week, Austin real estate developer, Nate Paul, said Paxton recommended the woman for her job with Paul's real estate company, according to a transcript obtained by the AP.

Paul is at the center of criminal allegations against Paxton by current and former staffers who accuse him of bribery and abuse of office.

The high-profile Republican, who denies the charges, is also accused of using his office to serve the interests of Paul rather than those of the state of Texas. 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is accused of having an extramarital affair with a woman in 2018, who worked for a GOP senator at the time. Pictured: Paxton waits on the flight line for the arrival of Vice President Mike Pence at Love Field in Dallas, June 2020

He allegedly told aides about the affair in a meeting, but said he had ended it and recommitted to his marriage. The woman, who is not named was recommended for a job with Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, a Paxton donor. Pictured: Paxton with his wife, left, and Paul, right

According to the AP, the woman had stopped working as a Senate aide at the end of 2019, though her reason for departing was not immediately clear.

The woman is named in a transcript of Paul's deposition and both people who said Paxton told them of the affair independently identified her by name. 

She did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The AP is not naming her because she is not a public figure. 

Paul's hiring of the woman at Paxton's recommendation sheds new light on the relationship between the two men.

Seven of Paxton's top deputies reported their boss to the FBI in September for alleged bribery, abuse of office and other crimes.  

Those allegations stem in part from Paxton's decision to investigate Paul's claims that a federal judge and the FBI broke the law in searches of his home and offices last year. 

The attorney general's office announced last month that the investigation into whether Paul was mistreated by the FBI was closed after prosecutors in Austin expressed unease. 

'We have a good faith belief that the attorney general is violating federal and/or state law including prohibitions related to improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential criminal offenses,' the letter reads.

The letter also said that the employees have provided statements regarding Paxton's alleged crimes 'to the appropriate law enforcement authority'. 

Paxton has denied the allegations and dismissed the whistleblowers as no more than 'rogue employees.'

The disclosure of the affair is likely to deepen political problems for Paxton, who has gained a national profile in office as a crusader for conservative Christian legal causes, even while maintaining his innocence in the face of separate criminal charges.

Spokespersons for the attorney general did not respond to questions on Thursday.

During his Monday deposition, Paul explicitly denied employing the former Senate aide at his company, World Class, as a favor to Paxton.

'World Class has hundreds of employees, including the woman, and in accordance with federal and state laws does not invade their privacy including to inquire about their personal lives,' the developer's lawyer, Michael Wynne, said in an email. 

The allegations stem from a letter signed by seven top aides, including Blake Brickman , who served as deputy attorney general for policy and strategy and Lacey Mase , who served deputy attorney general for administration. After the letter became public, Brickman and Mase were fired and the remaining five either resigned or were placed on leave

Details were vague, but the allegations in the letter stem in part from Paxton's decision to investigate Paul's claims that a federal judge and the FBI broke the law in searches of his home and offices last year

Paxton has denied the allegations and dismissed the whistleblowers as no more than 'rogue employees.' Pictured: Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, speaks during a news conference outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, September 2019

Under questioning during the deposition, Paul said he did not know how the woman he hired and the attorney general knew each other.

He said he couldn't recall how long the woman had worked for him, what she was paid and whether he met her before or after Paxton recommended her.

The senator's office has not responded to requests for comment. The woman's personnel records are blank where the reason for her departure would be indicated.

In September, Paxton hired an outside lawyer to look into Paul's claim against the FBI, and separate allegations that businessmen conspired against him with a federal judge. 

The move prompted the remarkable rebellion by the deputy attorneys general for policy, administration, civil litigation, criminal investigations and legal counsel - Blake Brickman, Lacey Mase, Darren McCarty, Mark Penley and Ryan Vassar - as well as Paxton's first assistant, Jeff Mateer, and Mateer's deputy, Ryan Bangert. 

The most senior aide to Paxton, Mateer, resigned weeks ago. Brick and Mase were fired. The remaining four have been placed on leave.   

The allegations sparked new calls for Paxton's resignation and raised questions about his ties with the developer. 

Paxton has acknowledged knowing Paul, who gave his campaign $25,000 in 2018, but the full nature of their relationship has been unclear.

Last month, Paxton's office announced earlier that the investigation into whether Paul was mistreated by the FBI was closed after prosecutors in Austin expressed unease.Pictured: US President Donald Trump waves upon arrival, alongside Paxton in Dallas, Texas, June 2020

Neither Paxton nor the woman he had the affair with have responded to requests for comments. Pictured: Paxton with his wife and Eric Trump

A new aspect of their connection emerged Monday when lawyers in a civil case against some of Paul's companies questioned the developer. 

During the deposition, Paul said the former Senate aide applied for a posted job and now works for him as a project manager. A lawyer asked the developer whether Paxton recommended the woman.

'I believe he - I believe he did recommend her,' Paul replied.

Paxton acknowledged his affair with the woman during his hard-fought 2018 reelection campaign at least partially out of concern that it would become public, the people who he told about it said.

That September, Paxton gathered a small group of top staff in his Austin campaign office. 

A person who attended the meeting said Paxton and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, walked into the conference room holding hands. 

The attorney general told the group he had an affair but had since ended it and recommitted to his marriage, the person said.

The other person confirmed the meeting took place and said Paxton also spoke with that person separately about his affair with the woman.

Paxton is still awaiting a trial on securities fraud charges in a case that has been stalled for years over legal challenges. He pleaded not guilty in 2015 and went on to win reelection three years later.