Paxton’s Dubai New Year’s Eve with Indicted Fraudsters Deepens Texas Senate Crisis

Key points

• Video shows Paxton, his girlfriend Tracy Duhon, Ahmed, and Suhail on a balcony in Dubai watching fireworks over the Burj Khalifa on Jan. 1, 2025.
• Ahmed and Suhail were indicted in 2024 for embezzling over $15 million from Loretto Hospital in Chicago; they pleaded not guilty in October 2026.
• Ahmed donated $190,000 to Paxton, including $25,000 just three days after the federal indictment was filed.
• Talarico criticized Paxton’s association with fugitives, calling him 'the sketchiest guy in the room.'
• Paxton’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, while his adviser Nick Maddux dismissed the incident as political persecution.

Background

This development follows a series of controversies involving Paxton, including a 2015 felony indictment for security fraud and a 2023 impeachment attempt by the Texas House. Recent leaks of a 2014 deposition and his divorce from State Senator Angela Paxton have further damaged his public image. The Dubai incident emerges one week before Texas early voting begins, intensifying a race where Talarico holds a 2-3% lead in polls.

How outlets are covering it

The Wall Street Journal first published the video, highlighting the timing of the party relative to the federal indictment. The New York Times confirmed the video’s authenticity and emphasized the unclear extent of Paxton’s ties to the fugitives. KSAT focused on the campaign finance records showing Ahmed’s donations, while The Jerusalem Post contextualized the incident within Trump’s earlier endorsement of Paxton despite warnings from Sen. John Cornyn. All outlets agree on the core facts but differ in emphasis: WSJ and NYT focus on the video evidence, KSAT on financial ties, and JPost on the broader political fallout.

Why it matters

The incident threatens to derail Paxton’s Senate campaign, potentially allowing the first Democrat to win statewide office in Texas since the 1990s. It also raises questions about campaign finance ethics and the vetting process for high-profile political endorsements.

What to watch

The case against Ahmed and Suhail will proceed in federal court, while the Texas Senate race continues with early voting beginning in late October. Paxton’s campaign may face further scrutiny over financial disclosures and past controversies.