Ken Paxton Affair Blamed for Divorce from Senator Wife — Who Is Laura Olson, His Alleged Mistress?

The divorce of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and State Senator Angela Paxton has drawn widespread attention in US political circles.

After nearly 38 years of marriage, Angela filed for divorce 'on biblical grounds', with implied references to adultery playing a pivotal role. Central to the scandal is Laura Olson, the woman alleged to have had an affair with Paxton.

Angela Paxton Cites Adultery on Divorce Filings

Court documents confirm that the couple separated in June 2024. In her legal filing, Senator Paxton said she had attempted to reconcile but could no longer consider the marriage honourable before God or family. She cited infidelity and unspecified revelations as the basis for the divorce, according to CBS News.

Ken Paxton, a long-serving Republican and prominent ally of Donald Trump, responded by asking for prayers and privacy. He also suggested that ongoing political pressures may have contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.

Who Is Laura Olson? The Woman at the Centre of the Allegations

Laura Olson is widely believed to be the woman involved in an extramarital relationship with Ken Paxton, which played a key role in his impeachment in 2023. According to sworn testimony from Paxton's former chief of staff, the affair began in 2018. Paxton initially characterised the matter as a private property transaction before later acknowledging the relationship.

Olson was reportedly employed by political donor Nate Paul shortly after the relationship began. Her appointment raised questions over whether the job was offered as a favour, potentially constituting a misuse of public office. Although she was summoned to testify at the impeachment trial, Olson was ultimately declared unavailable by state legislators.

Paxton's Career Under Scrutiny

Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in May 2023 on multiple counts, including abuse of office, bribery, and corruption. Many of the allegations centred on his ties to Nate Paul and the alleged affair with Olson.

He was acquitted in a narrow and largely partisan Senate vote, with Angela Paxton recused from voting. Until now, she had continued to support her husband in public, but the divorce filing marks a notable change in her stance.

Joanna Rodriguez for the National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a strongly worded rebuke of Paxton's conduct on X, calling it 'truly repulsive and disgusting'. As he mounted a campaign to unseat fellow Republican Senator John Cornyn, some observers viewed Angela Paxton's legal action as a significant development that may influence the primary contest.

Angela Paxton, who represents Senate District 8 in Texas, has not yet commented further. Legal proceedings are expected to begin later this year, potentially overlapping with the Republican primary campaign schedule.

What This Means Going Forward

Ken and Angela Paxton's divorce marks a turning point in long-standing personal and political tensions. Laura Olson, now central to public scrutiny once again, remains closely linked to the allegations that led to Paxton's impeachment.

Angela Paxton's decision to cite 'biblical grounds' in the divorce underscores the seriousness of her claims. With the Senate campaign now under way, the long-term effects of the affair and divorce on Ken Paxton's political standing and public credibility are likely to unfold in the months ahead.