SAN ANTONIO — Four days after becoming the subject of a criminal complaint, Republican attorney general candidate Ken Paxton spoke to the annual gathering of Sheriffs' Association of Texas without addressing the controversy Monday.

Paxton's remarks instead were largely biographical and focused on his opposition to President Barack Obama. The complaint, filed by Texans for Public Justice, an Austin-based government watchdog group, alleges that Paxton committed a felony by referring clients to a North Texas investment firm without registering with state authorities as required by law. The group revealed the complaint Friday, though it was filed a week earlier.

The Travis County District Attorney's Office confirmed it had received the complaint, though Travis County Assistant District Attorney Gregg Cox declined any additional comment.

Cox heads the Travis County DA's statewide anti-corruption operation, known as the Public Integrity Unit, which would likely lead any investigation into Paxton.

The allegations contained in TPJ's complaint mirror the findings in the Texas State Securities Board's reprimand of Paxton in May. The board fined him $1,000 for selling securities for three years — in 2004, 2005 and 2012 —without registering with the state. Paxton waived his right to appeal the board's ruling.

While TPJ is frequently knocked by critics as a liberal advocacy group, prior complaints filed by the group resulted in the prosecution of former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, and the current grand jury investigation into Gov. Rick Perry.

Democratic lieutenant governor candidate state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte of San Antonio and Democratic attorney general candidate Sam Houston also spoke to the gathering Monday.

In his remarks, Paxton commented on the importance of political competition in ensuring open and transparent government.

“A one-party system takes out accountability, takes out competition, and it takes out transparency,” he said. “And whether you have the Republicans in power or the Democrats in power full-time, you need that competition to create the accountability and transparency that allows for open government.”

However, when a reporter attempted to approach Paxton after his speech to ask him questions about the criminal complaint and other topics, he was physically blocked by Paxton spokesman Anthony Holm.

“He didn't run from this or hide from this,” Holm said. “We knew some Democratic front group would be out there pushing this type of story and waiting until just before the election to try to make a bunch of news.”

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