How Angela could help Paxton decide the fate of her feuding husband, Ken

The September episode with the process server in their driveway was perhaps the most dramatic example of Ms Paxton’s action to assist her embattled husband, who at the time was facing not only political backlash over the abortion issue, but also a criminal charge of securities fraud and a federal investigation into his firing of top employees who had accused him of corruption. But it wasn’t the only time she did that.

In 2019, months after taking office, Ms. Paxton introduced one of her first pieces of legislation: a bill to change the law related to investment advice that her husband had been charged with trespass. The proposal made no sense.

“No one should consider Angela Paxton the woman scorned here,” said Matt Angle, the director of the Lone Star Project, a Democratic political organization. “She’s a full partner.”

On January 6, 2021, Ms. Paxton stood onstage next to her husband at a meeting with President Donald J. Trump near the U.S. Capitol as he listed his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election in several states, hoping to reverse the results of the 2020 election in several states. them.

At this point, many of the allegations against Mr. Paxton, including the affair, were already largely known. “Thank God for a Texas legislature like my senator, Angela Paxton, my wife, who created laws that protect against fraud,” Mr. Paxton said. told the crowd in Washington that day, nodding beside him. As they walked off stage, she gave him a quick kiss.

And she was with him smiling upon his swearing in for a third term this year.

“They don’t hate each other,” said Rev. Ellis, who offered an official prayer during the swearing-in ceremony. “If she wanted to make a statement, that would be a pretty easy way to make one,” he said by not showing up. “I have yet to meet a Christian couple who have no challenges, and the fact that they are still together should tell everyone something.”

Susan C. Beachy contributed research.