Republican Ken Paxton Caught on Video Partying in Dubai With Two US Fugitives Ahead of Senate Race

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was filmed celebrating New Year's Eve in Dubai in 2024 with two American businessmen who had been indicted on federal healthcare fraud charges months earlier, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Paxton and his girlfriend, Tracy Duhon, watched fireworks overlooking the Burj Khalifa on 31 December. Guests included Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail, who were indicted over allegations involving more than $15 million (about £11.3 million) taken from a Chicago hospital. Ahmed had donated $190,000 (about £143,500) to Paxton's campaign, including $25,000 (about £18,000) days after his indictment.

The footage has emerged as Paxton campaigns for a US Senate seat against Democrat James Talarico. President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton despite reportedly being warned that damaging information about the attorney general could surface.

Trump's Endorsement Faces Renewed Scrutiny

According to the Journal, Trump was told before endorsing Paxton over incumbent senator John Cornyn that damaging revelations were likely to emerge. Trump proceeded with his backing, and Paxton won the Republican primary run-off in May.

The race has become increasingly competitive. A YouGov poll conducted from 28 September to 5 October gave Talarico 50 per cent support among likely voters, compared with 44 per cent for Paxton. The poll had a margin of error of three percentage points. No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994.

Dubai Gathering Links Paxton to Indicted Donor

Ahmed and Suhail had not returned to the US to face the hospital-related charges at the time of the gathering. Both have since returned. Ahmed was brought back from Serbia and remains in custody after pleading not guilty to federal fraud charges in August 2026.

He faces allegations in a separate Covid-19 testing case involving hundreds of millions of dollars in government payments. Those allegations are distinct from the hospital case, and Ahmed has denied the charges by pleading not guilty.

The Journal reported that Ahmed's lawyers cited family health issues as a reason for his delayed return to the US. Suhail's lawyer, Adam Sheppard, said civil matters in Dubai had affected his client's ability to travel and that Suhail returned voluntarily after they were resolved.

The video was recorded by another guest and later cited in a filing in a Texas civil court case involving that attendee. The footage establishes Paxton's presence at the gathering, but does not establish that he knew about or participated in the alleged fraud.

Paxton's Response and Previous Controversies

Paxton's senior adviser, Nick Maddux, did not directly address the Dubai trip or Ahmed's donations. Instead, he defended Paxton's record, saying the attorney general had faced years of 'political persecution' and that voters continued to support his work for Texas.

State records show Paxton's publicly funded security detail accompanied him on 19 foreign trips between 2022 and 2025. The Journal reported that the records did not include the private Dubai trip.

Paxton was impeached by the Texas House in 2023 over abuse-of-office allegations linked to real-estate developer Nate Paul. He denied wrongdoing and was acquitted by the state Senate. His wife, state Senator Angela Paxton, filed for divorce in 2025, citing adultery.

The Dubai footage and Ahmed's campaign contributions have raised further questions about Paxton's associations as he seeks a Senate seat. The available reporting does not establish that Paxton was involved in the alleged fraud.