Network Diagrams
Visualizing the corruption web and dark money ecosystem surrounding Ken Paxton.
Paxton Research Section
The Corruption Web
(Real Estate Developer)"] end subgraph BACKERS["Billionaire Backers"] DUNN["Tim Dunn"] WILKS["Farris Wilks"] PAC["Defend Texas
Liberty PAC"] end subgraph PROTECTION["Protection Network"] PATRICK["Dan Patrick
(Lt. Governor)"] STICKLAND["Jonathan Stickland
(PAC Chair)"] end PAXTON -->|"Helped with foreclosure"| NATE PAXTON -->|"Gave confidential info"| NATE PAXTON -->|"Fired"| WHISTLEBLOWERS NATE -->|"Donated to"| PAXTON DUNN -->|"Funded"| PAC WILKS -->|"Funded"| PAC PAC -->|"$3M to"| PATRICK PAC -->|"Threatened primaries"| STICKLAND PATRICK -->|"Presided over trial"| PAXTON STICKLAND -->|"Protected"| PAXTON
🕸️ Key Connections
The Nate Paul Connection: Paxton allegedly used his AG office to help real estate developer Nate Paul avoid foreclosure. In return, Paul donated to Paxton's campaign. The help included: intervening in a lawsuit, issuing a favorable AG opinion (via straw requestor Sen. Bryan Hughes), improperly sharing confidential DPS information, and hiring an outside attorney to issue 30+ grand jury subpoenas on a baseless complaint.
The Dunn/Wilks Money Machine: West Texas billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks almost entirely funded the Defend Texas Liberty PAC with $11M (2020-2022). The PAC then gave $3M to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick weeks before he was to preside over Paxton's impeachment trial. PAC Chair Jonathan Stickland threatened primary challenges against Republicans who voted to impeach.
The Dunn/Wilks Media Ecosystem
Foundation (TPPF)"] PLF["Palestine Legal
Foundation"] end DUNN2 --> DCF WILKS2 --> WF DCF -->|"Funds"| TN DCF -->|"Funds"| TN2 WF -->|"Funds"| LT WF -->|"Funds"| FRIENDS DUNN2 -->|"Board member"| TT WILKS2 -->|"Board member"| TT TT -->|"Ideas feed"| TN TT -->|"Ideas feed"| TN2
The Narrative Pipeline
Think tanks like TPPF generate policy ideas and messaging. These are then amplified through "news" outlets like Texas Scorecard and The Texan, creating an echo chamber that presents billionaire-funded ideology as grassroots journalism. The result: a self-reinforcing network that shapes Texas politics from behind the scenes.
Timeline of Key Relationships
| Date | Connection | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Paxton indicted | Criminal charges filed; Dunn/Wilks begin supporting |
| 2018 | PAC formation | Defend Texas Liberty PAC created to protect Paxton |
| 2020-2022 | $11M funding | Dunn/Wilks almost entirely fund the PAC |
| 2023 | $3M to Patrick | PAC donates to Lt. Gov weeks before impeachment trial |
| 2023 | Stickland threats | PAC chair threatens primaries: "Wait till you see my PAC budget" |
| 2024 | Fuentes scandal | PAC meeting with white nationalist Nick Fuentes exposed |