Collin DA asks Texas Rangers to investigate AG Paxton

All listen to a point by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at the State Capitol for a statement about the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas' decision on the lawsuit challenging President Obama's executive action on immigration on February 18, 2015 less All listen to a point by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz as Governor Greg Abbott is joined by Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at the State Capitol for a statement about the United States ... more Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close Collin DA asks Texas Rangers to investigate AG Paxton 1 / 50 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN – Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis on Thursday asked the Texas Rangers to look into Attorney General Ken Paxton's admitted violations of state securities law, a day after a local grand jury appeared ready to start its own investigation.

On Monday, Austin-based watchdog group Texans for Public Justice, which filed the original criminal complaint against Paxton in Travis County, re-filed its complaint with Willis and asked him to recuse himself, citing the district attorney's long-time friendship and business relationship with Paxton.

Then on Wednesday, a local grand jury in Collin County requested the investigative file from Travis County to conduct its own probe.

Willis' office did not return repeated requests for comment Wednesday, but put out a statement just after 4 p.m. Thursday that it has asked the Texas Rangers to step in.

"Our office took steps to have appropriate investigative agencies, including the Texas Rangers, follow-up on those allegations," Willis said in a statement Thursday. "To facilitate this process, we have today requested Travis County's files for law enforcement."

In April of last year, Paxton was fined $1,000 and was reprimanded by the Texas State Securities Board after he admitted to repeatedly violating the law by soliciting clients for his friend Frederick "Fritz" Mowery's investment firm without being properly registered with the state.

Pointing out that the violations were third-degree felonies, Texans for Public Justice filed a criminal complaint with the Travis County District Attorney's office. Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said her office was not the proper venue, however, and sent the cases to Dallas and Collin counties.

Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk said she did not believe her office had venue over any alleged crimes, leaving Willis the sole remaining prosecutor to consider Paxton's case.

Late last month, Willis' office told the Houston Chronicle it was "not an investigative agency" and that it did not "have a case from Travis County or anyone else."

Willis' statement repeated that Thursday, adding, "The prosecutor's duty is to seek justice, not convictions. In our office, we strive to treat people fairly regardless of their standing in society."

"For example, we do not take advantage of someone because he is poor. We do not give someone a break because she is rich, famous, important, or powerful. Likewise, we do not single out someone because of those things."