Democratic Senate hopeful Talarico attacks Paxton over Epstein files and plea deal controversy

During the Republican pre-midterm convention in Dallas, Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico visited the Reading Room, a traveling display of the DOJ’s release of almost 3 million Epstein investigation files, and stood with survivors Annie Farmer and Sharlene Rochard. He lauded their bravery and accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of ignoring the victims and of a pattern of covering up abuse, urging Paxton to use his authority to sue the Justice Department over the file release.

Talarico also denounced a plea agreement offered by Paxton’s office to Waco attorney Adam Hoffman, who faced child-abuse charges; the deal was rejected by the judge and Hoffman ultimately received a 60-day jail term without being required to register as a sex offender. The campaign later aired a TV ad linking Paxton to the plea deal, while Paxton’s camp responded by highlighting donations to a pro-Talarico super PAC from Reid Hoffman, a venture capitalist who had previously associated with Epstein. Similar attacks on Republican candidates over ties to convicted sex offenders have appeared in races in North Carolina, Arizona and other states.