Ken Paxton partied in Dubai with two US fugitives, one had donated $190,000: Bombshell report amid Texas Senate race

A Wall Street Journal report said Ken Paxton partied with two US fugitives in Dubai.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reportedly attended a lavish New Year’s Eve party in Dubai with two American men facing federal criminal charges in the United States, according to a bombshell report by The Wall Street Journal. The gathering took place on December 31, 2024, as fireworks welcomed 2025, and was attended by Paxton’s girlfriend, Tracy Duhon.The two men, Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail, had been indicted months earlier in a federal healthcare fraud case but had not returned to the US at the time of the party, the report said. Both have since returned to the country to face the charges.Ahmed, a healthcare executive and businessman with interests in Texas, had donated $190,000 to Paxton, including $25,000, days after his indictment, according to campaign finance records cited by Journal.The men were indicted in federal court in Illinois in 2024 over allegations that they embezzled $15 million from a Chicago hospital where Ahmed had served as chief financial officer. Ahmed was charged in a separate, larger alleged scheme involving at least $195 million in fraudulent government payments for Covid-19 tests. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.Ahmed is currently in custody. His lawyers have said in court filings that he was outside the US when the first indictment was issued and that family health issues delayed his return. Suhail’s attorney said civil matters in Dubai had affected his ability to travel and that he returned voluntarily after those matters were resolved.The party has drawn renewed attention as Paxton, a Republican backed by President Donald Trump, campaigns for a US Senate seat against Democratic nominee James Talarico. The contest has brought fresh scrutiny of Paxton’s associations, travel and past legal controversies.According to the Wall Street Journal, a video of the Dubai gathering showed Paxton and Duhon watching the fireworks from a luxury highrise balcony surrounded by other guests. Details of the event were also included in court filings in a Texas civil case.Paxton’s campaign adviser Nick Maddux did not directly address the Dubai gathering in a statement to Journal. He said Paxton had faced political persecution for years and that voters had repeatedly supported him because they believed he had fought for Texas.Paxton has faced several controversies during his tenure as Texas attorney general, including a 2023 impeachment by members of his own party over allegations of abuse of office. He denied wrongdoing and was acquitted by the state Senate.His relationship with Duhon has also attracted attention. Paxton’s wife, Texas state Senator Angela Paxton, filed for divorce last year, citing adultery, following public reports of affairs.