--- title: "Talarico seeks release of Paxton depositions in Texas Senate race" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/talarico-seeks-release-of-paxton-depositions-in-texas-senate-race" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/talarico-seeks-release-of-paxton-depositions-in-texas-senate-race" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/talarico-seeks-release-of-paxton-depositions-in-texas-senate-race.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/talarico-seeks-release-of-paxton-depositions-in-texas-senate-race" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-26T13:45:34.623Z" source_reported: "2026-08-26T11:06:10.000Z" updated: "2026-08-26T14:15:24.043Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-26T15:19:52.108Z" --- # Talarico seeks release of Paxton depositions in Texas Senate race *Democratic candidate James Talarico wants to unseal testimony from a civil fraud case involving his opponent, Ken Paxton.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is corroborated by 11 independent outlets, with two providing full reports. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates fact from comment and provides specific details. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico plans to ask a court to release deposition transcripts. - The depositions are from a civil fraud case involving Unity Resources, a company connected to Talarico's opponent, Ken Paxton. - Paxton was not a defendant in the settled case, and has denied allegations against him. - The Wall Street Journal previously reported that one deposition suggested Paxton may have violated attorney-client privilege. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, intends to ask a court to release deposition transcripts. These documents stem from a civil case in which the mineral assets company Unity Resources was accused of fraud. Ken Paxton, the Republican opponent Talarico is challenging, was connected to Unity Resources but was not a defendant in the lawsuit, which has since been settled. Talarico's campaign confirmed it would file a motion with the court on Wednesday to unseal the testimony. The campaign stated that there is no legal basis to keep the depositions from public view and that withholding them violates Texas's constitutional guarantee of open judicial proceedings. Paxton has consistently denied allegations against him, characterising them as politically motivated attacks. ## Disagreement on deposition contents The Associated Press and WKMG reported that The Wall Street Journal previously published details from one deposition, indicating Paxton may have violated attorney-client privilege. Both outlets also noted that those involved disputed this information. The Journal also reported that Paxton stated he could not recall the answer to approximately 90 questions during his deposition. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports printed below mention the specific court where Talarico's campaign plans to file its motion, though The Texas Tribune digest states it will be in Collin County. The full reports from Associated Press and WKMG noted that Paxton was acquitted after being impeached and faced criminal charges for securities fraud, which ended with restitution payments but no admission of guilt. None of the centre-rated digests included this detail. ## Who covered it Shares of the 17 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 35% (6) - Centre: 65% (11) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-26T15:19:52.108Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-26T15:30:23.148Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Four left-rated reports focused on Talarico's effort to release the depositions to highlight his opponent's past. Associated Press and The Seattle Times reported that Talarico wants to keep the focus on Paxton's history of scandals. The Texas Tribune stated Talarico's campaign would ask a court to unseal the depositions. Oskaloosa Herald also reported Talarico's intention to reveal the testimony. ### Centre - Seven centre-rated reports highlighted Talarico's move to make the depositions public. WKMG, Winnipeg Free Press, Click on Detroit, The Northern Virginia Daily, Weatherford Democrat, WSLS, and KTBS all reported that Talarico wants to reveal testimony involving his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton. Several of these digests noted the depositions are part of a civil case where Unity Resources was accused of fraud, and that Paxton was connected to the company. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 9 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [San Antonio Current](https://sacurrent.com/news/texas-news/talarico-campaign-asks-court-to-unseal-paxtons-depositions-in-energy-investing-dispute) — Talarico campaign asks court to unseal Paxton’s depositions in energy investing dispute - [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/26/texas-senate-race-talarico-seeks-depositions-that-could-damage-paxton) — In Texas Senate race, Talarico seeks depositions that could damage Paxton - [The Texas Tribune](https://texastribune.org/2026/08/26/texas-james-talarico-ken-paxton-depositions-motion-to-unseal-securities-fraud-dispute) — Talarico campaign will ask court to unseal Paxton depositions - [Political Wire](https://politicalwire.com/2026/08/26/talarico-seeks-depositions-that-could-damage-paxton) — Talarico Seeks Depositions That Could Damage Paxton - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate-race) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton’s depositions to keep focus on opponent’s past in Texas Senate race - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/08/26/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate-race) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [Loonie Politics](https://looniepolitics.com/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate-race) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton’s depositions to keep focus on opponent’s past in Texas Senate race - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/paxton-talarico-senate-texas-depositions-public-release-dcb8298c9390ae12a58f0fb18dd704bf) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/08/26/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate-race) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [Click on Detroit](https://clickondetroit.com/news/politics/2026/08/26/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate-race) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [Oskaloosa Herald](https://oskaloosa.com/news/national_news/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate/article_b345271c-55bf-5010-b7a8-ba5a0736a091.html) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [The Northern Virginia Daily](https://nvdaily.com/associated_press_national/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate/article_737587aa-b318-5eff-ac7a-96eafe69c10e.html) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [Weatherford Democrat](https://weatherforddemocrat.com/texas/news/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate/article_aad88f0d-5203-548c-92c2-f4791e994be0.html) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [WSLS](https://wsls.com/news/politics/2026/08/26/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate-race) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [KTBS](https://ktbs.com/news/national/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate/article_7e34fc11-4c51-59fe-b3e9-02592cfe8639.html) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [KTEN](https://kten.com/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate/article_b8e1ba0b-c72c-5810-9f80-db1ff93817c5.html) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel](https://gjsentinel.com/news/us/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxtons-depositions-to-keep-focus-on-opponents-past-in-texas-senate/article_b8eab403-b9e5-5efb-819a-485a5ebf4ec6.html) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past in Texas Senate race - [Spectrum Local News](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2026/08/26/talarico-wants-to-unearth-paxton-s-depositions) — Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on opponent's past ## Questions **What is James Talarico trying to do?** James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, is seeking to have deposition transcripts released. These transcripts are from a civil fraud case involving Unity Resources, a company connected to his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton. **What is Ken Paxton's connection to the case?** Ken Paxton was connected to Unity Resources, the company at the centre of a civil fraud case. He was not a defendant in the lawsuit, which has since been settled. Paxton has denied allegations against him. **What has been reported about the depositions previously?** The Wall Street Journal previously reported that one deposition suggested Ken Paxton may have violated attorney-client privilege. The same report indicated Paxton stated he could not recall the answer to about 90 questions during his testimony. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/talarico-seeks-release-of-paxton-depositions-in-texas-senate-race. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Talarico seeks release of Paxton depositions in Texas Senate race", https://mediabias.news/politics/talarico-seeks-release-of-paxton-depositions-in-texas-senate-race