WSJ: Ken Paxton at 2024 Dubai New Year's Eve party with two men facing federal fraud charges
The Wall Street Journal reports that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, now the Republican Senate nominee, attended a New Year's Eve 2024 party in Dubai with two men indicted in a federal healthcare fraud case. Paxton's campaign did not address the party directly.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Wall Street Journal reported that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attended a New Year's Eve party in Dubai on 31 December 2024 with two American men who faced federal criminal charges in the US. The Times of IndiaN “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reportedly attended a lavish New Year’s Eve party in Dubai with two American men facing federal criminal charges in the United States” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC “spent New Year’s Eve 2024 in Dubai with his mistress and two fugitives from U.S. justice, according to a report” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2According to the Journal, a video filmed by another guest shows Paxton and girlfriend Tracy Duhon watching fireworks from a high-rise balcony with other guests; the Independent describes the display as over the Burj Khalifa. The Times of IndiaN “a video of the Dubai gathering showed Paxton and Duhon watching the fireworks from a luxury highrise balcony surrounded by other guests” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC “mobile phone footage, filmed by another guest at the party in question” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The two men, Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail, had been indicted in 2024 in federal court in Illinois over allegations that they embezzled $15 million from a Chicago hospital where Ahmed had been chief financial officer, and had not yet returned to the US at the time of the party. The Times of IndiaN “The men were indicted in federal court in Illinois in 2024 over allegations that they embezzled $15 million from a Chicago hospital where Ahmed had served as chief financial officer.” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC “who had been indicted on federal healthcare fraud charges by a court in Illinois earlier that year to which they initially failed to return home to respond” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Both have since returned to the US, and Ahmed is in custody. The Times of India adds that Ahmed was charged separately in a larger alleged scheme involving at least $195 million in fraudulent government payments for Covid-19 tests, and has pleaded not guilty to those charges. The Times of IndiaN “Ahmed was charged in a separate, larger alleged scheme involving at least $195 million in fraudulent government payments for Covid-19 tests. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC “Both have since returned to the U.S., and Ahmed is in custody, the newspaper reports.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Ahmed's lawyers said in court filings that he was abroad when the first indictment was issued and that family health issues delayed his return. Suhail's attorney said civil matters in Dubai affected his ability to travel and that he returned voluntarily once they were resolved. The Times of IndiaN “His lawyers have said in court filings that he was outside the US when the first indictment was issued and that family health issues delayed his return.” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC “Suhail’s attorney said his client had been held up by civil matters in Dubai but subsequently returned voluntarily.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Campaign finance records cited by the Journal show Ahmed, who has business interests in Texas, donated $190,000 to Paxton, including $25,000 days after his indictment. The Times of IndiaN “had donated $190,000 to Paxton, including $25,000, days after his indictment” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC “Ahmed, who has business interests in Texas, has donated $190,000 to Paxton, including $25,000 in the wake of his indictment.” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Paxton's senior adviser Nick Maddux gave the Journal a statement that did not directly address the party. It said Paxton, like President Trump, had been politically persecuted for years and that voters had repeatedly sent Paxton back to office because they believe Paxton has fought for Texas. The Independent said it had also asked the campaign for comment. The Times of IndiaN “Paxton’s campaign adviser Nick Maddux did not directly address the Dubai gathering in a statement to Journal.” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC ““Like President Trump, Ken Paxton has been politically persecuted for years, and every time, voters have seen through it”“The Independent has reached out to the Paxton campaign for further comment.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The report lands during the Texas Senate race, in which Paxton, a Republican endorsed by Trump, faces Democratic nominee James Talarico. Paxton has a history of controversy, including a 2023 impeachment by the Texas House from which the state Senate acquitted him, and a divorce filing last year by his wife, state Senator Angela Paxton, citing adultery. The Times of IndiaN “Paxton, a Republican backed by President Donald Trump, campaigns for a US Senate seat against Democratic nominee James Talarico.”“Paxton’s wife, Texas state Senator Angela Paxton, filed for divorce last year, citing adultery” Read at The Times of India ↗ The IndependentLC “impeached by the Texas House in 2023 on corruption charges – of which he was only narrowly acquitted in the state Senate” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The Independent adds that Talarico has criticised Paxton's travel, citing at least 19 recorded overseas trips with a state-funded security detail between 2022 and 2025, and that most polls now suggest Talarico is ahead. The IndependentLC “Talarico’s critiques over Paxton’s travel schedule stem from his going on at least 19 recorded overseas trips with his state-funded security detail between 2022 and 2025”“most polls now suggest Talarico is ahead” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Treats the report as another blow to a struggling Trump-backed candidate, folding it into a wider account of Paxton's scandals, travel and weak polling.
- Emphasis
- Trump's endorsement despite advisers' warnings, Paxton's recorded complaints about Trump, polls favouring Talarico, the 19 foreign trips and the London phone incident.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Ahmed's separate $195 million Covid-test fraud charges or his not-guilty plea.
- Charged language
- “floundering Senate pick”“mistress”“fugitives”
- For example
-
“Trump’s floundering Senate pick partied in Dubai with mistress and two US fugitives: report” — The Independent
“He may come to regret the decision, as most polls now suggest Talarico is ahead” — The Independent
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Presents the WSJ report as a "bombshell" tied to the Texas Senate race, sticking mainly to the report's details and the parties' responses.
- Emphasis
- The $190,000 in donations, the charges against Ahmed and Suhail, and their lawyers' explanations for the delayed return.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little on the wider campaign context, such as polling, Trump's comments on Paxton or Talarico's criticism of Paxton's travel.
- Charged language
- “Bombshell report”“fugitives”“lavish”
- For example
-
“Ken Paxton partied in Dubai with two US fugitives, one had donated $190,000: Bombshell report amid Texas Senate race” — The Times of India
“Ahmed is currently in custody.” — The Times of India
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The Wall Street Journal reported that Paxton attended a Dubai New Year's Eve party on 31 December 2024 with Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail.
- Ahmed and Suhail were indicted in Illinois over an alleged $15 million embezzlement from a Chicago hospital and have since returned to the US.
- Ahmed donated $190,000 to Paxton, including $25,000 after his indictment.
- Paxton's adviser Nick Maddux responded with a statement about political persecution rather than addressing the party directly.
Where accounts differ
-
How to characterise the two men and Paxton's companion
- Left
- The Independent calls them "fugitives from U.S. justice" and Duhon Paxton's "mistress".
- Centre
- The Times of India also says "fugitives" in its headline but body text says they were men facing federal charges who had not yet returned; it calls Duhon Paxton's girlfriend.
- Right
- No right-leaning outlet covered the story.
Ken Paxton person
Through adviser Nick Maddux, Paxton's campaign did not directly address the party and said Paxton has been politically persecuted for years, like Trump.
““Like President Trump, Ken Paxton has been politically persecuted for years, and every time, voters have seen through it” — The Independent
“did not directly address the Dubai gathering in a statement to Journal” — The Times of India
James Talarico person
Talarico, the Democratic nominee, has attacked Paxton over a "jet-setting lifestyle" and foreign travel; the articles do not quote him on the Dubai report.
“who has been attacked by rival James Talarico over his “jet-setting lifestyle,”” — The Independent
Wall Street Journal organisation
The Wall Street Journal is the source of the report, citing video of the party, campaign finance records and court filings in a Texas civil case.
“Details of the event were also included in court filings in a Texas civil case.” — The Times of India
“Campaign records also cited by the Journal” — The Independent
Left1 article
-
Trump’s floundering Senate pick partied in Dubai with mistress and two US fugitives: report
Critical Uses the WSJ report to portray Paxton as a liability for Trump and a trailing candidate.
Centre2 articles
-
Mixed Relays the WSJ report as a bombshell for the Senate race, with the lawyers' explanations and Paxton's non-answer included.
-
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 13 Oct 14:44 First The Times of IndiaN Ken Paxton partied in Dubai with two US fugitives, one had donated $190,000: Bombshell report amid Texas Senate race
- 13 Oct 18:54 +4h 11m The IndependentLC Trump’s floundering Senate pick partied in Dubai with mistress and two US fugitives: report
- 13 Oct 19:21 +4h 38m NewsweekN Who Are Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail? Fugitives Reportedly With Paxton
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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