Ken Paxton's office blocks release of his booking video

This handout photo provided by Collin County, Texas shows Texas Attorney General Kenneth Paxton, who was booked into the county jail Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in McKinney, Texas. A grand jury last week indicted Paxton on felony securities fraud charges. (AP Photo/Collin County via AP) less This handout photo provided by Collin County, Texas shows Texas Attorney General Kenneth Paxton, who was booked into the county jail Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in McKinney, Texas. A grand jury last week indicted ... more Photo: HOGP Photo: HOGP Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Ken Paxton's office blocks release of his booking video 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - The video of Attorney General Ken Paxton's post-indictment booking should not be released, his office has decided, because it would jeopardize the security of the Collin County Jail.

"We find the release of the submitted information would interfere with law enforcement," Assistant Attorney General Kenny Moreland wrote to Robert J. Davis, counsel for Collin County, on October 21. "Accordingly, the sheriffs office may withhold the submitted information."

According to the Dallas Morning News, which first reported the office's decision this weekend, multiple media organizations requested the video of Paxton's August trip to the Collin County Jail to be booked and take his mugshot. The month before, the first-term attorney general was indicted on three felony charges involving state securities laws, including failing to register with the state while acting as an investment adviser representative.

Collin County asked the attorney general's office to block the video's release, saying it showed "secured areas of the facility" and revealed "'blind spots' and where, when, and why security cameras move in the facility."

READ THE OAG'S OPINION HERE

"Releasing this information to the public could allow private citizens to develop ways to circumvent the security cameras, and would jeopardize the safety and security of the jail, thereby interfering with law enforcement and crime prevention," they said. Jail officials told the Chronicle on Monday the request was not unusual, and that they have had to ask the attorney general for permission to block booking videos in the past.

Based on these concerns, the office said the sheriff could refuse to release the video. Paxton was not involved in making the decision, his staff said, because it would be an obvious conflict of interest.

"The rulings are handled by longtime career lawyers in the office with extensive open-government experience," spokesperson Cynthia Meyer told the News. She told the Chronicle on Monday the decision was "consistent with many previous rulings from our office."

Paxton, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges and awaits trial in Collin County, has recused himself from several duties that could relate to his indictments so as to avoid a conflict of interests.