With early voting beginning on Monday, Senator Ken Paxton today announced the endorsement of the Honorable Richard Roper, former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.  In his endorsement, Roper stated,

“I’m pleased to endorse Ken Paxton, a man I know will represent our state well as Attorney General. Ken is a genuine conservative who we can count on to fight for Texas and stay true to conservative principles.”

Mr. Roper joins former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and other former Department of Justice officials in endorsing the McKinney frontrunner.   Additionally, Paxton has earned strong support from the law enforcement community.  Since the March primary, Paxton has been endorsed by the Houston Police Officers’ Union Political Action Committee (HPOU), Texas’ largest law enforcement organization, as well as the Harris County Deputies’ Organization and the Texas Fraternal Order of Police.

From 2004-2008, Mr. Roper served as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, leading an office of 93 attorneys covering 100 counties, including the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, in criminal and civil affirmative and defensive matters.  During his career, he has personally prosecuted more than 150 jury trials involving a broad range of matters from major white-collar crime (including securities, tax, bank, and healthcare fraud), to narcotics and money laundering matters, to capital murder.  Additionally, Roper served as Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas from 1987-2004 and as Assistant District Attorney in the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office from 1982-1987.

Now in private practice, Richard Roper focuses his litigation practice on white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, SEC enforcement, and commercial litigation. His practice also involves directing internal corporate investigations and representation in qui tam litigation, antitrust matters, environmental criminal matters, and complex immigration matters.

Last week alone, Senator Paxton earned official endorsements from the National Rifle Association, the Texas State Rifle Association, and Gun Owners of America.