Texas – Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico said Attorney General Ken Paxton denied his public information request for records related to the Adam Hoffman case, accusing Paxton of withholding information Texans deserve to see.
In a post on X, Talarico said Paxton “just denied our public information request for the Hoffman Files” and argued that the records should be released to provide more details about how the case was handled.
“Texans deserve to know why,” Talarico wrote, accusing Paxton of failing to provide transparency and saying, “We don’t need any more ped-phile protectors in our government.”
Talarico’s campaign account, Team Talarico, also shared a video in which the candidate discussed the denied request and said seeking the records was his campaign’s first step toward getting answers.
“Our first step was to request this public information, and Ken Paxton just got back to us with a denial,” Talarico said in the video. “And so our first plan of action has been rejected by the Attorney General.”
He added that he hoped to build bipartisan support to pressure the attorney general’s office to release information related to the case.
The dispute centers around records connected to Adam Hoffman, a former Texas teacher who pleaded guilty in 2021 to multiple charges involving the se-ual abuse of a child. Hoffman was sentenced to probation after reaching a plea agreement, a decision that has drawn criticism from political opponents and renewed attention during the 2026 Texas Senate race.
According to reporting from Texas news outlets, Hoffman was arrested after allegations that he had an inapropriate relationship with a student while working as a teacher and coach. The case later became a political issue after critics questioned the outcome of the plea agreement and called for more details about the prosecution process.
Talarico has repeatedly criticized Paxton over the case, arguing that the attorney general’s office should release additional documents related to the matter. Paxton’s office has disputed accusations that it is hiding information and has said that public information requests are reviewed under Texas law, including exemptions that may prevent the release of certain records.
Under the Texas Public Information Act, government agencies must provide public records unless the information falls under legal exceptions, such as records involving confidential information, ongoing investigations, or protected personal details.
The controversy comes as Paxton and Talarico are preparing for a high-profile Senate contest in Texas. Paxton, who has served as the state’s attorney general since 2015, is seeking the Republican nomination, while Talarico is running as a Democrat.
The Hoffman Files dispute has become one of several issues being used by Talarico to challenge Paxton’s record on transparency and accountability. Talarico said his campaign intends to continue pushing for the release of information and hopes lawmakers from both parties will support efforts to make the records available.
Paxton has not agreed to release the requested files, and the disagreement over the records remains ongoing as both candidates continue campaigning ahead of the election.
