Ken Paxton Attended Dubai Party With Federally Indicted Businessmen

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was present at a New Year's Eve celebration in Dubai alongside two American businessmen who were federally indicted on charges of healthcare fraud. The event, which took place on December 31, 2024, included attendees watching fireworks from a luxury high-rise overlooking the Burj Khalifa.

Among the guests were Anosh Ahmed and Sameer Suhail, who had been indicted months prior to the gathering on charges related to an alleged healthcare fraud scheme. Neither man had returned to the United States to face the charges at the time of the Dubai party. Ahmed is currently in custody in the U.S., and his legal team stated that family health issues delayed his return after the indictment. Suhail's lawyer said civil disputes in Dubai prevented his client from traveling until they were resolved, after which Suhail returned voluntarily.

The charges against Ahmed and Suhail stem from an alleged $15 million scheme involving a Chicago hospital where Ahmed formerly served as chief financial officer. Both were indicted in federal court in Illinois for alleged embezzlement. Ahmed also faced separate charges related to approximately $195 million in alleged government payments for fraudulent COVID-19 tests, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

Records indicate that Anosh Ahmed contributed $190,000 to Paxton's political campaigns, including a $25,000 donation made shortly after Ahmed's indictment. Paxton's campaign has defended him, with a senior adviser stating that voters have consistently supported Paxton, viewing him as someone who fights for Texas.

This revelation emerges as Paxton, who is running for the U.S. Senate, faces scrutiny over his personal finances and travel. A recent investigation highlighted that security costs for his trips as Texas Attorney General since 2015 have amounted to $3.3 million, with a small fraction of that spending definitively linked to state business. One trip to Augusta, Georgia, during the Masters golf tournament incurred at least $25,000 in security expenses.

In the latest polling averages, Paxton trails his opponent, Talarico, by 2.8 percentage points. Republican groups have allocated significant funds to support Paxton's campaign, with $122 million spent in September alone and an additional $66 million reserved for advertising through Election Day.