Texas candidate James Talarico accused Ken Paxton of rejecting a public information request for the Hoffman files. He linked the request to Adam Hoffman’s plea deal in Texas. Talarico said Hoffman served 29 days in jail and avoided sex offender registration. His remarks gained attention after he demanded answers from Paxton.
Talarico opened the video by calling to “Release the Hoffman Files” while criticizing Paxton’s handling of the records request. The post drew responses over Hoffman’s plea deal and Talarico’s claims about the attorney general.
In the video, Talarico said, “I filed a public information request to release the Hoffman files.” He added, “Ken Paxton just rejected it.” Talarico also described Hoffman as “a well-connected lawyer” and alleged that he had abused “an eight-year-old boy.”
Talarico argued that Hoffman “should be spending his life in prison,” claiming Paxton had given him “a sweetheart deal” through the plea agreement. He also alleged that Hoffman was released after “just 29 days” and did not register as a sex offender in Texas.
According to Talarico, journalists had contacted Paxton through his office, personal phone, and even approached him in public, yet he had “refuse[d] to answer any questions” about the plea deal. He argued that Texans deserved answers about why Hoffman returned to the public after 29 days.
James Talarico, Ken Paxton and Hoffman Files Reactions
Talarico’s push for the Hoffman files quickly drew a split response online, with some users backing his demand for transparency and others challenging his account of the case.
Several users supported the push for answers. One wrote, “what’s the stated reason for denial.” Another added, “If transparency were a crime, Paxton would already be serving a life sentence.”
A separate response stated, “If he can’t be open as AG then what makes me you think he will be open as Senator?” One user also wrote, “Yes! Run on dismantling the Pedophile Protection Ring. Run ad, after ad, after ad about allllll of their pedo protection activities.”
Others pushed back on Talarico’s framing. One response read, “That is not what happened! The case ended in a mistrial and a plea was accepted due to the victim’s reluctance to testify.” Another wrote, “The family didn’t want another trial, so the plea deal was better than nothing.”
The debate remains tied to Paxton’s rejected records request and whether more information about the Hoffman plea deal will be released.
