Talarico touts endorsement from man who accused Paxton of stealing his pen
Joe Joplin left his $1,000 pen in a dish near a courthouse metal detector, after which a security camera captured Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton picking it up and walking away.
James Talarico, a candidate for the Texas Senate, has gained an endorsement from Joe Joplin, an attorney who once accused Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton of stealing his $1,000 Montblanc pen. The controversy surrounding the pen began when Joplin left it near a courthouse metal detector, leading to its discovery by Paxton, who was seen picking it up in a security camera recording. Initially, Paxton's spokesman claimed it was a mistake; however, Talarico's campaign has made Joplin's support official.
Talarico aims to highlight allegations of corruption against Paxton and promote his efforts to gather supplies for students returning to school. In a statement, Talarico's spokesman, JT Ellis, referred to Paxton as "the kind of guy who steals your pen" and himself as "the kind of guy who’d let you borrow his." This endorsement comes as Talarico seeks to capitalize on the controversy and portray himself as someone who values honesty and integrity.
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