Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton returns to court over indictment on securities fraud charges

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife Angela go through security before entering the Collin County Courthouse for a hearing on Tuesday, Dec.1, 2015 in McKinney, Texas. Paxton is accused of encouraging wealthy investors to pump more than $100,000 into a tech startup called Servergy without revealing he was being paid by the company. (David Woo/The Dallas Morning News via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Prosecutors say Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is not entitled to records from the secret grand jury proceedings that led to his felony indictments on securities fraud charges.

Paxton appeared Tuesday in court in McKinney for the second time since being indicted in July on charges of defrauding wealthy investors in a tech startup. He has pleaded not guilty.

The Republican official's high-powered legal team is asking a judge to consider whether special prosecutors pursuing the charges were qualified to present a securities case to a grand jury.

Paxton was joined in court by his wife and more than a dozen supporters who prayed outside the Collin County courtroom.

The judge has not indicated when he'll rule on Paxton's request to dismiss the case.

The hearing could last into Wednesday.