Texas AG 'Pleased' Ethics Probe Over Gay Marriage Dismissed
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he's pleased an ethics complaint over his response to the U.S. Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage last year has been dropped.
Paxton on Wednesday called the complaint co-signed by more than 200 attorneys "baseless." It asked the State Bar of Texas to investigate whether the Republican violated professional conduct rules by telling county clerks they could still refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses on religious grounds.
Former State Bar Director Steve Fischer, who helped organize the complaint, says he received notice this week the allegations were dismissed.
The complaint accused Paxton of encouraging government officials to break the law in the face of the Supreme Court ruling.
Paxton says he will "continue to speak out" in support of constitutional rights, including religious liberty.
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