An investigation into the Texas Attorney General’s office has revealed questionable practices regarding the allocation of taxpayer-funded hotel rooms. The inquiry centers on rooms booked for employees attending the 2023 inauguration of President Donald Trump and Supreme Court arguments.

Investigation Details

The Attorney General’s office reallocated rooms originally intended for employees to donors and private citizens. Some of these individuals initially failed to cover the costs of their stay, prompting an audit by the state comptroller’s office earlier this year.

Trump Inauguration and Supreme Court Trips

The agency spent over $20,000 on a nonrefundable block of 10 hotel rooms at the Courtyard Marriott for these events. A winter storm prevented some employees from traveling to Washington D.C., leaving the agency potentially responsible for approximately $16,000 in unused room charges.

Efforts to Avoid Costs

Agency employees sought to avoid these costs by offering the rooms to private citizens who agreed to pay out of pocket. Deputy First Assistant Attorney General Ralph Molina, in an investigative report, stated the intent was to relieve the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of its financial obligation.

Individuals Who Received Rooms

Those who accepted the rooms included major Paxton donors Terry and Jennifer Lacore, Albanian businessman Bashkim Ulaj, Fatmir Mediu, chair of the Albanian Republican Party, and Keith Craft, lead pastor at Elevate Life Church. State Senator Angela Paxton, who later filed for divorce from Attorney General Ken Paxton, also utilized a room at her own expense.

Audit and Resignations

The state comptroller’s office initiated a routine post-payment audit in June to review payroll, purchasing, and travel expenditures. The audit was temporarily paused following a change in comptrollers.

Senior Official Departures

In October, discussions about the travel discrepancies began between chief financial officer Michele Price and chief of staff Lesley French. Shortly after the March 3 primary election, the audit was reopened. Soon after, both French and Price resigned from their positions. Neither provided a specific reason for their departure in their resignation letters.

The Office of the Attorney General did not respond to requests for comment regarding the investigation and the resignations.