Unpaid bills put trial of Texas attorney general in limbo

March 29, 2017 at 2:53 p.m. | Updated March 29, 2017 at 3:05 p.m.

by Associated Press

FILE - In this July 29, 2015, file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a hearing in Austin, Texas. On the brink of bringing Paxton to trial on felony securities fraud charges, the government's prosecutors are threatening to bail out of the case unless they get paid. Paxton, a stockbroker and state lawmaker before being elected attorney general two years ago, was indicted for allegedly steering investors to a technology startup in 2011 without disclosing that he was being paid by the company. The trial is scheduled to start May 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
FILE - In this July 29, 2015, file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a hearing in Austin, Texas. On the brink of bringing Paxton to trial on felony securities fraud charges, the government's prosecutors are threatening to bail out of the case unless they get paid. Paxton, a stockbroker and state lawmaker before being elected attorney general two years ago, was indicted for allegedly steering investors to a technology startup in 2011 without disclosing that he was being paid by the company. The trial is scheduled to start May 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Special prosecutors appointed to put Texas' attorney general on trial are threatening to quit if they don't get paid.

Republican Ken Paxton was back in a suburban Dallas courtroom Wednesday. He's charged with felony securities fraud over allegations of duping wealthy investors in a tech startup before becoming Texas' top prosecutor.

He has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, Paxton faces 5 to 99 years in prison.

The trial is set to begin in May. But two appointed special prosecutors say they're owed more than $200,000 and shouldn't have to work for free. A judge has tied up their invoices after a Paxton supporter filed a lawsuit claiming the case is costing taxpayers too much money.

Legal experts say they've never seen a case jeopardized like this.

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