A feud among some of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s closest current and former aides has spilled into public view, threatening to overshadow his political comeback and casting a long shadow over Texas’ highest law enforcement office. In a flurry of legal filings, bar complaints, and explosive allegations, the once tight-knit circle of lawyers who defended Paxton during his 2023 impeachment is now locked in a fight over harassment claims, witness tampering accusations, and political retaliation.
Central to the controversy is a lawsuit filed by Jordan Eskew, a former executive assistant who worked closely with Judd Stone, Paxton’s ex-Solicitor General, and Chris Hilton, the former chief of the general litigation division, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. In her amended complaint, Eskew accuses Stone of making repeated sexually inappropriate comments and creating a hostile work environment while she was on leave from the attorney general’s office to assist Stone and Hilton at their private firm during Paxton’s 2023 impeachment trial. She also claims Hilton stood by passively, failing to intervene or protect her.
Among the incidents described, Eskew recounts a work lunch where, after she remarked that a shot of alcohol was “the most disgusting thing” she had tasted, Stone allegedly responded, “I highly doubt that is the most disgusting thing that has ever been in your mouth.” Hilton, the suit states, merely winced and laughed. She also alleges Stone called her “white trash” for wearing turquoise earrings, directed her to buy alcohol and prepare drinks for the office, and once warned: “If anyone else makes a comment about my drinking, they’ll be fired.” According to the complaint, Stone told her that at his firm, “you can say whatever slurs you want.”
The Texas Workforce Commission reportedly found Eskew had sufficient grounds to bring a harassment claim. In response to the TWC, Stone acknowledged making some of the statements but denied they were sexual in nature. Eskew claims that after returning to the attorney general’s office and raising concerns about her treatment, she was asked to resign. Stone and Hilton, who also left the office, say they were not forced out and left because of disagreements with Paxton’s top deputy, Brent Webster, whom they now accuse of orchestrating the harassment lawsuit to sabotage them.
As the legal crossfire continues, now including bar complaints and countersuits, Paxton’s former legal team finds itself consumed by infighting, with serious professional and political implications. While Paxton himself is not named in the harassment suit, the controversy reaches the heart of the network that defended him during his impeachment and raises new questions about the culture and leadership within the top tiers of Texas law enforcement.
