Texas AG Paxton opens investigation into Media Matters over potential fraud

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday announced that he had opened an investigation into media watchdog group Media Matters for America for potential fraud.

"The Office of the Attorney General ('OAG') is opening an investigation into Media Matters for potential fraudulent activity," read a press release from the Republican's office. "Under the Texas Business Organizations Code and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the OAG will vigorously enforce against nonprofits who commit fraudulent acts in or affecting the state of Texas."

"Attorney General Paxton was extremely troubled by the allegations that Media Matters, a radical anti-free speech organization, fraudulently manipulated data on X.com (formerly known as Twitter)," the statement continued.

"We are examining the issue closely to ensure that the public has not been deceived by the schemes of radical left-wing organizations who would like nothing more than to limit freedom by reducing participation in the public square," he said.

The announcement came the same day that X sued Media Matters over an article claiming the company had run ads for major firms next to antisemitic posts. X has alleged that the organization "knowingly and maliciously manufactured" materials it ran its article by abusing the platform's algorithm.

X has sought an order that Media Matters remove the article and pay an unspecified sum in damages. The suit made good on a promise from Musk to launch a "thermonuclear lawsuit" against the organization.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.