Jurors start deliberating in AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial.
The Texas Senate Begins Deliberations in Historic Impeachment Trial
The Texas Senate jury has begun deliberations in the historic impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Capitol in Austin, Texas. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick dismissed the jurors to the deliberation room, where they will be required to remain until they are ready to vote or until 8 p.m.
The jury will vote on each of the 16 articles Mr. Paxton is facing and the vote will be taken on the Senate floor.
“It only takes a conviction on one article to remove the attorney general from office,” Mr. Patrick said.
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On Friday morning, both sides were given one hour to present their closing arguments to the Senators who will decide Mr. Paxton’s fate.
“Everyone of the so-called whistleblowers, which are nothing but disgruntled ex-staffers who hired the same lawyer who just happens to be an Ashcroft law firm who just happens to be a protege of the Bush regime,” defense lawyer Tony Buzbee said during his closing argument. “The Bush-era ends today in the state of Texas.”
Mr. Paxton attended the proceedings on Friday morning for the first time since the first day of the proceedings, which began on Sept. 5. He was seated between defense attorneys Mr. Buzbee and Mitch Little.
Rules for the Jury
Mr. Patrick kicked off day nine of the impeachment proceedings for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton by going over the rules of the trial.
“I want to be sure the media reports it correctly and that the public understands everything we do will be in total transparency throughout this process,” Mr. Patrick said Friday morning.
He went on to add that the House managers must prove that the charges against Mr. Paxton are true and that they justify removing him from office.
Mr. Patrick read each of the articles of impeachment before closing arguments began. Each side was allotted one hour for final arguments.
Thirty of 31 state senators will decide whether Mr. Paxton will return to office or be permanently removed. The senators will vote on 16 of 20 articles of impeachment. Four of the articles were held in abeyance.
Mr. Paxton’s wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, has attended the full trial, but she is not permitted to be involved in the deliberations or vote, per the Senate trial rules.
A threshold of 21 votes is required to convict Mr. Paxton on any article.
Allegations Against Paxton
In May, Mr. Paxton was impeached by the GOP-led Texas House in a vote of 121–23 on accusations including abuse of power, bribery, and other alleged wrongdoings.
Many of the allegations and testimony throughout the trial were centered around Austin real estate investor Nate Paul, whose home and business were raided by the FBI in 2019.
Mr. Paul had filed an open records request from the AOG into the actions of the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety, which assisted in the search.
House managers accused Mr. Paxton of abusing his power to assist his friend, Mr. Paul. They claimed that the attorney general accepted a home renovation at no cost in exchange for assisting Mr. Paul.
Seven of the eight so-called “whistleblowers” who reported Mr. Paxton to the FBI for alleged wrongdoings testified over the first seven days of the trial.
But Mr. Buzbee provided evidence that the repairs made to the Paxton’s home following a storm were paid through an insurance claim.
They also accused Mr. Paul of employing Laura Olson, who allegedly had an extra-marital affair with Mr. Paxton, as a favor to the attorney general.
Mr. Buzbee argued that Mr. Paul hired Ms. Olson to do a job that he said she is still doing.
Ms. Olson was called as a witness on Wednesday morning, but the House failed to provide the required 24-hour notice per the trial rules. She would have been eligible to take the stand at 3:53 p.m., but she was later “deemed unavailable to testify.”
Shortly after the announcement, House lawyer Rusty Hardin rested their side of the case.
How does the presence of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, impact the deliberations or voting process?
“Texas Sen. Deliberates on Historic Impeachment Trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton”
The Texas Senate jury has commenced deliberations in the historic impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton at the Capitol in Austin, Texas. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has dismissed the jurors to the deliberation room, where they will be required to remain until they are ready to vote or until 8 p.m.
In this trial, the jury will vote on each of the 16 articles Mr. Paxton is facing, and the vote will be taken on the Senate floor. As Lt. Gov. Patrick stated, “It only takes a conviction on one article to remove the attorney general from office.”
On Friday morning, both sides were given one hour to present their closing arguments to the Senators who will ultimately decide Mr. Paxton’s fate. Defense lawyer Tony Buzbee argued that the so-called whistleblowers are nothing more than disgruntled ex-staffers who hired a lawyer linked to the Bush regime. Buzbee claimed that the Bush-era ends today in the state of Texas.
Mr. Paxton attended the proceedings for the first time since the beginning of the trial, which started on September 5. He was seated between defense attorneys Mr. Buzbee and Mitch Little.
Before the closing arguments began, Lt. Gov. Patrick went over the rules of the trial, emphasizing the need for transparency throughout the process. He stated that the House managers must prove that the charges against Mr. Paxton are true and justify his removal from office.
Thirty out of 31 state senators will decide whether Mr. Paxton will return to office or be permanently removed. The senators will vote on 16 out of 20 articles of impeachment, with four articles being held in abeyance.
It is worth noting that Mr. Paxton’s wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, has attended the full trial but is not permitted to be involved in the deliberations or vote, per the Senate trial rules.
The outcome of this historic impeachment trial will not only shape the political landscape of Texas but also have implications for the role of an attorney general in upholding the law and maintaining public trust. As the jurors deliberate on each article, the eyes of the nation are focused on the Texas Senate, awaiting the decision that will determine the future of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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