Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office is arguing that whistleblowers whose lawsuit alleged Paxton fired them for reporting that he abused his office to commit crimes that helped a donor cannot target him in the litigation.

In a motion arguing the court should dismiss the case, Paxton’s office argued that it has immunity because the plaintiffs are only alleging criminal conduct by Paxton, who is an elected official, which doesn’t count as a governmental entity or as a public employee under the Texas Whistleblower’s Act.