Turbulence in Texas AG’s office to delay Google ad suit – POLITICO

Whither the states: A coalition of almost every U.S. state has been probing Google since September 2019. Instead of joining the DOJs antitrust complaint, the 37 remaining states said Tuesday they planned to continue their investigation and hoped to reach a decision in the coming weeks.

Several state attorneys general, including many Democrats, opposed filing a suit so close to the election. While the states hope to finish by the end of October, any complaint wouldnt be filed until after Nov. 3, but could come as soon as that week or the week after, the three people said, speaking anonymously to discuss ongoing deliberations.

Whats the matter with Texas: The state took the lead on a probe by 48 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico investigating Googles conduct in the advertising technology market. But turmoil in Paxtons office has clouded the probes future.

Seven top aides to the Texas AG said in a letter to state officials that they had alerted law enforcement to concerns that Paxton may have violated laws against bribery and improper influence. Their concerns stem from Paxtons actions related to Austin real estate investor Nate Paul, who donated $25,000 to the attorney generals 2018 reelection campaign.

Paxton said he would not step down despite calls by Democratic attorneys general to do so and accused rogue employees of making false accusations.

Paxtons No. 2, Jeff Mateer, resigned after the allegations became public. Paxton told the Southeast Texas Record that he has placed two of the other employees on leave.

This week, two additional employees were fired, the Texas Tribune and other local news outlets reported, raising new concerns about whether Paxton may have violated state whistleblower laws by improperly terminating them.

The remaining two of the seven whistleblowers Ryan Bangert and Darren McCarty have been key players in Texas Google probe. McCarty, who worked as a litigation partner at law firm Alston & Bird before joining the attorney generals office, was expected to head Texas trial team in the Google advertising case.

As of Friday, both were still employed by the attorney general office, the individual said.

The Justice Department is separately probing Googles dominance of the ad markets, and the federal investigation remains ongoing.

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Turbulence in Texas AG's office to delay Google ad suit - POLITICO