Texas version of Epstein files? Talarico targets Paxton over child sex abuse deal
James Talarico is deeming a child sex offender’s plea deal the Texas version of the Epstein files. And he wants everything that led to the bargain from the Texas attorney general’s office released to the public.
State Rep. Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a race that’s garnering nationwide (and White House) attention.
On Thursday, Talarico is calling for Paxton’s office to release “the Hoffman files.” Here’s what you need to know.
- Former Waco attorney Adam Hoffman, 49, was arrested in June 2022 and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a young child after a friend of his son’s told authorities that he had been abused since he was about 7 years old. Hoffman initially faced between 25 years to life in prison on the first-degree felony charge.
- The McLennan district attorney recused himself in the case, which is why the Attorney General’s Office took over.
- The victim testified when the case went to trial, but it ended with a hung jury. The victim, now 14, didn’t want to testify again in an effort not to be re-traumatized, according to Paxton’s office.
- In March, Paxton’s office offered Hoffman a plea deal that included reduced charges and 30 days in jail if he pleaded guilty. Before the bargain, Hoffman was facing a life sentence without parole. Talarico called it an “Epstein-style sweetheart deal.”
- Hoffman pleaded guilty on April 16 to reduced charges of indecent assault and displaying harmful materials to a minor, Class A misdemeanors that could lead to up to a year in jail. The judge in the case extended the jail time to 60 days.
- On day 29 in the McLennan County Jail, Hoffman was released for good behavior. The jail often grants similar “two-for-one” deals when inmates exhibit good behavior, according to KWTX-TV in Waco.
- After moving to Omaha with his wife, Hoffman was required to register as a sex offender in his home county of Sarpy County. Because of the plea deal, Hoffman was not required to register in Texas.
At a press conference, Talarico said no matter a person’s political leaning, anyone can agree that child molesters must be brought to justice.
“So today I am calling on Ken Paxton to release the Hoffman files, all text messages, all emails, all documents, all internal memos relating to the Adam Kaufman case,” Talarico said at a press conference in Waco. “Those documents need to be made public immediately, so Texans can get answers about this corrupt deal.”