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Texas Attorney General Won't Face Charges In Bribery Probe

AUSTIN (AP) — Prosecutors have closed a bribery investigation against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after the Republican received a $100,000 donation to his legal defense fund from an executive who recently settled a Medicare fraud suit with the state.

Paxton's already been indicted on securities fraud charges. Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley was investigating separate charges he improperly took the donation from James Webb.

That donation came prior to Webb's medical diagnostic firm agreeing last year to pay $3.5 million to settle charges it overbilled Texas for services.

Wiley released a statement Friday saying no charges would be filed because Paxton and Webb had a prior personal relationship, nullifying bribery laws.

Paxton has received nearly $550,000 in donations for his legal expenses while contesting the separate, felony charges of misleading investors.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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