Global Courant 2023-05-28 06:52:13
The Texas House of Representatives voted Saturday to impeach Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton on charges of bribery, neglect of official duty and abuse of public trust after hours of debate in an afternoon session – with the case taken to the Senate sent.
The House voted 121 to 23 to impeach him, meaning he will step down temporarily while he stands trial in the upper chamber. A simple majority was needed to remove him.
The House’s Committee on General Investigating had launched an investigation in March after Paxton and his office asked the legislature for $3.3 million to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by whistleblowers in the office. The former employees had called in 2020 for an investigation into Paxton’s actions regarding an Austin real estate investor who had his home searched by the FBI. They accused Paxton of using his office to protect him by authorizing an FBI investigation.
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The impeachment articles allege that the settlement delayed the discovery of facts and testimony in Paxton’s favor.
“Over the course of several months, the committee and staff attempted to determine whether payment of the settlement was warranted because of the lack of discovery in the lawsuit and because Paxton and his office were not forthright about his conduct regarding the reports of the whistleblower in good faith of his violations of his constitutional and statutory duties,” a memo from the commission said this week.
The Republican-led investigation has presented findings that Paxton recommended that the developer, Nate Paul, hire a woman with whom Paxton was allegedly having an affair, and that Paul helped Paxton renovate his home in exchange for favorable legal help from Paxton’s office. Paxton is also charged with obstruction of justice and false statements in official documents.
Republican Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton speaks at a meeting with former President Donald Trump, October 22, 2022, in Robstown, Texas. (AP photo/Nick Wagner, file)
It is the latest allegation of wrongdoing against the conservative firefighter — who has filed a number of high-profile lawsuits in support of conservative causes and against the Biden administration. He was charged with securities fraud in 2015, but has yet to face trial.
Paxton has dismissed the impeachment attempt as “political theater” based on “rumors and gossip, parroting long-disproved claims”.
TEXAS HOUSE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS IMPECTION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON AFTER INVESTIGATION
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the “Save America” rally on October 22, 2022 in Robstown, Texas. The former president, along with other Republican nominees and leaders, held a rally to energize supporters and voters ahead of the midterm elections. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Before the vote, Paxton secured the support of Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who called the proceedings “a travesty.”
“Ken has been the strongest conservative AG in the country for the past nine years. No attorney general has fought the abuses of the Biden admin more ferociously — and more effectively — than Paxton.”
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“That’s why the swamp in Austin wants him out,” he continued. “The special interests don’t want a steadfast conservative AG. I understand people are concerned about Ken’s legal challenges. But the courts need to resolve them.”
Paxton posted a statement on Twitter after the impeachment, writing, “I look forward to a speedy resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have every confidence that the trial will be fair and just.”
“The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed that the outrageous impeachment plan against me was never meant to be fair or just. It was a politically motivated sham from the start,” he said.
Former President Donald Trump also gave his support to the AG, saying on Truth Social, “Free Ken Paxton.”
“Hopefully the Republicans in the Texas House will agree that this is a very unfair process that should not happen or continue – I will fight you if it happens,” he warned.
House Democrats had taken their case against Paxton, with Rep. Ann Johnson accusing Paxton of being “desperate to keep this case in the court of public opinion.”
“Because he is not able to win in a court of law. Look, in a court of law, a judge will hear that case and he will be treated just like any other civil or criminal defendant,” she said.
While some Republicans have supported impeachment, others have expressed concern over the method of the investigation and impeachment, calling it rushed and politicized.
“I don’t think today is about guilt or innocence, it’s about trial,” said representative Tony Tinderholt.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to Fox News Digital (Fox news)
A two-thirds majority in the Senate is needed to remove him from office. As the trial progresses, Governor Greg Abbott will appoint a temporary replacement.
Kyle Morris of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at Twitter.
Texas House votes to impeach Republican attorney
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