AUSTIN, Texas — Attorney General Ken Paxton is trying to end the whistleblower lawsuit against him. But the Travis County judge who ordered him to testify under oath issued a new order Friday for Paxton and three of his aides to sit for depositions in early February.

Late last week, Paxton said he'll no longer contest the facts of the case and is prepared to accept any judgment. The move came just days after the Texas Supreme Court denied his attempts to avoid answering questions under oath. 

Four employees sued in 2020 for being fired after accusing Paxton of corruption. The agency and whistleblowers agreed to settle the lawsuit, but the legislature refused to fund it with taxpayer dollars. The Texas House instead investigated the claims which led to Paxton's impeachment. The Senate later acquitted him and the whistleblower suit resumed. 

Whistleblower Blake Brickman said in an interview on Capital Tonight Monday that their lawsuit is not over. 

"Ken Paxton's trying to have his cake and eat it, too," he said. "I think Ken Paxton is absolutely terrified of being deposed and have to answer questions in this case." 

In response to the Travis County judge continuing to seek Paxton's deposition, the attorney general on Friday filed a motion in state District Court seeking a protective order to quash the depositions and to stop the whistleblowers from seeking any further discovery in the case. Paxton's denied any wrongdoing. 

"The defendant can't just say this case is over. That's what he's trying to do," Brickman said. "I think that by 2025 when the legislature comes back, hopefully we will get a jury verdict in our favor...We think with that full record, that the legislature can decide in a year that they will fund this because it's the right thing to do." 

Click the video link above to watch our full interview with Brickman.