New report reveals 2 aides for Texas AG Paxton met with Trump officials just before the Capitol riots

It's no secret that GOP Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's traveled to Washington, D.C., the week of the U.S. Capitol riots as he appeared next to former President Donald Trump while he was onstage at the "Save America" rally. But now, his top aides' travel to Washington is also coming to light and questions are looming about the purpose of their trip that same week.

According to KXAN, Paxton's aides—First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster and Communications Deputy Director Kimberly Hubbard—were the two who traveled to the nation's capital to meet with Trump's senior White House officials.

Records from Paxton's office, obtained by KXAN, show details about Hubbard's reimbursed travel expenses on taxpayers' dime. Documentation shows that Hubbard "traveled to Washington on Jan. 5 and left Jan. 7, too. She stayed at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Washington the first night and the Alexandrian Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, the second night. Hubbard only sought reimbursement for personal car travel in Virginia, meals and her hotel stays, for a total of just over $700."

Her travel voucher also indicated that on Jan. 6, she "entered away status at 8:30 a.m. to attend to matters unrelated to state business, and resumed travel status at 1:00 p.m." The timing also raises red flags.

According to Webster's travel records, the publication indicates that he also traveled to D.C., from Jan. 5-7, approximately one month after Paxton's lawsuit challenging the presidential election results was dismissed. His travel expenses reportedly cost $1,080 in taxpayer dollars.

So, what was the reason for the aides' travel? The answer to that question remains unknown. While Hubbard's travel request indicated that she was "traveling to Washington DC to staff the Attorney General on state business," the news outlet is still seeking clarification on the reason for Webster's trip.

His hiring came shortly after a substantial turnover in Paxton's office. At the time, the embattled attorney general was accused of "misusing the office to benefit a wealthy friend and donor to his political campaign." Weeks after the presidential election, on Dec. 7, Paxton also found himself at the center of controversy over the election lawsuit he filed arguing that it "suffered from significant and unconstitutional irregularities."

On Dec. 11, the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out the highly publicized lawsuit. In its ruling, the court wrote, "Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections."