The Republican Party in Texas has been thrown into a bit of turmoil in recent weeks as the Republican-controlled Legislature took the extraordinary step of impeaching Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, who is also a Republican.
Paxton will be tried in the Texas Senate soon. He is only the third official in Texas’ history to have been impeached.
Last month, lawmakers accused him of violating the law, abusing office, taking bribes, and obstructing the justice. As required by the state constitution’s impeachment procedure, he was immediately removed from office until the Senate trial results were known. He will be permanently removed if two-thirds vote to convict on any of the charges.
Paxton’s impeachment case will be the first in decades. Former President Donald Trump, along with his allies, have already rallied behind him.
“ELECTION INTERFERENCE! “Free Ken Paxton and let them wait until the next election!” Trump recently wrote on Twitter.
What you should know
What charges are being brought against Paxton?
On May 27, the state House convicted Paxton of 20 articles of impeachment . The charges against him included disregard for official duties, misapplications of public resources and constitutional bribery. They also charged him with false statements made in official documents, conspiracy and attempt conspiracy, dereliction and unfitness to office, and abuse of trust.
Paxton is accused of a number of crimes centered on his relationship with Nate Paul. Paul was an Austin real-estate investor and wealthy donor who the Texas Republican protected and helped. Some of the charges are related to his retaliation towards whistleblowers that reported his conduct.
According to the articles, Paxton was:
- He ordered his employees to intervene when a nonprofit group sued Paul
- A legal opinion was issued that helped Paul. He hid his involvement by having a senator solicit the opinion.
- Paul shared information obtained by his office
- A hired an outside attorney to investigate “a baseless complaint” by Paul
- Accepted bribes, including renovations of his home and employment for a woman he had an extramarital relationship with
- Retaliated and fired whistleblowers at his office and used government resources to launch a “sham” investigation into their claims
- He obstructed justice by delaying criminal proceedings in his securities fraud case
- Violation of public information laws
According to The Associated Press, many of these incidents are well-known. They have been reported in local newspapers, and political opponents have seized upon them. There is also an federal corruption investigation underway into Paxton’s behavior . House lawmakers claim that the investigation and impeachment were triggered by the $3.3 million settlement Paxton reached with whistleblowers, and which he asked the House for approval.
“I think that the last straw is his belief that he can get the Legislature just to write a blank cheque for hush-money, without any accountability, or any effort to come in and give an explanation,” said Rep. Ann Johnson. She was a Houston Democrat, and formerly acted as prosecutors, who presented the impeachment case to the House.
Rusty Hardin was the attorney hired by House to present the case to the Senate. He suggested that the trial might reveal new information.
He said, “I promise you that it is 10 times worse than what has been reported.”
What is Paxton saying?
Paxton called impeachment efforts “illegal.” He argued ahead of the vote, that impeaching Paxton would “sabotage his lawsuits” against the administration of President Joe Biden and overturn the voters’ will who elected him in Nov.
Chris Hilton, a top aide of Hilton’s, stated at the press conference that Paxton’s claims were “completely unfounded” and “debunked repeatedly.”
Paxton, following his impeachment, said that the “ugly spectacle” in the Texas House confirmed the outrageous plot to impeach him was never intended to be fair or justice. “I am looking forward to a quick resolution in Texas Senate where I am confident the process will fair and just.”
Paxton’s defenders have criticised the House for its quick impeachment procedures over Memorial Day Weekend, but the impeachment manager has pointed to a confidential investigation that began this winter and continued quietly until the impeachment.
Investigators had “reached a stage where they were able to see that based on the evidence in front of them, there was a very real allegation that criminal conduct was occurring by the Attorney General. What do you think? Johnson said to NBC News that you wouldn’t leave a child molester in a house.
A member of the Texas House claimed that Paxton had threatened Republicans with political consequences.
“Are You Aware That the Attorney General Himself Called Members of this House While They Were Sitting at Their Desks and Threatened Them?” Rep. Charlie Geren during the impeachment procedures in the House.
He added, “God bless those poor senators. I don’t even know how much longer they will have to endure the same intimidation tactics of a man that does not deserve to hold office.”
What will the trial be like?
At a Monday press conference, Rep. Andrew Murr (a West Texas Republican) who chairs the House board of impeachment manager said that the trial will be conducted in the same way as a civil trial or criminal trial.
He said that both chambers of Congress have agreed to the testimony under oath. Both sides will be able to ask questions. In the proceeding, the same rules of evidence that are used in Texas criminal and civil trials will apply.
According to the Texas Constitution, the 31-member Texas Senate is the jury for the impeachment proceedings. Currently, there are 19 Republicans and twelve Democrats in the Texas Senate.
At least two members are connected personally and have not responded to interview requests. The articles identify Sen. Bryan Hughes after Paxton asked him to formally ask the attorney general for an opinion on a particular legal issue. Sen. Angela Paxton, the wife of the attorney general, is also mentioned. There is no information on whether she was involved with the renovations Paul made to the attorney general’s house.
The Senate has been quiet on the matter. Republican Lt. Governor. Dan Patrick, the Senate President, has stated that he will not address this issue.
“Don’t bother asking me anymore questions because I cannot answer them. Consider me as a judge in a courtroom, and our senators the same way. “Respect their time and space, this is a very serious matter,” he said.
Who are the main players?
The Texas Tribune reports that a team of attorneys representing the Office of the attorney general will defend Paxton at trial. The group includes Chris Hilton, the head of the litigation department, and Judd Stone.
The House appointed a board to oversee Paxton’s prosecution in the Senate. The board is chaired by Andrew Murr, a West Texas Republican attorney and state representative with a distinct handlebar mustache. Johnson, a Houston Democrat former prosecutor and former prosecutor and former prosecutor serves as vice-chair. The committee is made up of four Democrats and six Republicans; all except one are attorneys.
The managers hired Rusty Hardin, a long-time top lawyer, and Dick DeGuerin to represent their case before the Senate. Both have experience defending celebrities, wealthy plaintiffs and investigating or defending politicians. DeGuerin stated that they had more than 100 combined years of experience.
DeGuerin told a Thursday press conference that the people of Texas have a right to know if their top police officer is corrupt.
When will this happen?
By June 20, a Senate committee will be expected to present rules and procedures for the entire body. According to lawmakers, a trial will start no later than August 28.
Expect an explosive event whenever it occurs. The historic impeachment has already attracted national attention. This is especially true for Trump and his supporters who have defended Paxton as a key figure in the legal effort that aims to reverse Trump’s defeat in 2020.
“The RINO speaker of the House of Texas is Dade Phelan who is barely a Republican and failed the test of voter integrity. He wants to impeach Ken Paxton who has just been re-elected with a strong majority of American Patriots voting for him,” Trump recently wrote on social media.
Who currently serves as Attorney General?
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is a Republican and is the governor of Texas, named former Secretary-of-State John Scott as interim Attorney General on Wednesday.
