Texas AG Ken Paxton’s fate sealed as Senate votes on 16 impeachment charges.
Impeachment Trial of Texas AG Ken Paxton Ends with Senate Acquittal
The highly anticipated impeachment trial of Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton concluded on Saturday, as state senators voted against removing him from office.
In late May, the GOP-controlled state House voted to impeach Paxton on charges of corruption, bribery, obstruction, and other offenses related to the FBI’s investigation into real estate developer and Paxton donor, Nate Paul.
After deliberation, the senators acting as the jury acquitted Paxton, as reported in the trial livestream. They voted to acquit him on the first ten articles of impeachment and articles 15-20.
In order for Paxton to have been convicted and removed from office, at least two-thirds of the 30 eligible senators needed to vote in favor of sustaining at least one of the 16 articles of impeachment.
Paxton, who pleaded not guilty to all charges on the first day of the trial, presented evidence through his defense to challenge the prosecution’s arguments.
The trial revolved around testimonies from former Paxton staffers, whistleblowers, current employees, and other key witnesses.
Although Paxton’s wife, Angela, a Republican state senator, was not allowed to participate in the vote, she was required to attend the proceedings.
The House initially brought forth 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton, but the Senate decided to deliberate on the remaining four at a later date, according to The Texas Tribune.
Former President Donald Trump came to Paxton’s defense before the verdict, which Paxton highlighted on social media.
“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was easily re-elected last November, but now establishment RINOS are trying to undo that Election with a shameful impeachment of him,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Who would replace Paxton, one of the TOUGHEST & BEST Attorney Generals in the Country? Could it be a Democrat, or even worse, a RINO? The voters have decided who they want!
“Democrats are feeling very good right now as they watch, as usual, the Republicans fight & eat away at each other. It’s a SAD day in the Great State of Texas!”
Paxton, who previously served in both chambers of the state legislature, was elected as attorney general in 2014, according to Ballotpedia. He was reelected in 2018 and 2022.
Following the trial, Paxton announced that he will be interviewed by Tucker Carlson of the Daily Caller News Foundation next week to discuss the impeachment proceedings.
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What evidence was presented against Attorney General Ken Paxton during the impeachment trial?
Ng to take him out. Ken has been a great AG and is committed to defending the Constitution. He is tough on crime, strong on borders, loves our military and our vets.”
However, critics argue that the Senate’s acquittal of Paxton is a miscarriage of justice. They claim that the trial was marred by political bias and that the senators failed to fully consider the evidence presented against the Attorney General.
One of the key points of contention in the trial was Paxton’s alleged abuse of office to benefit real estate developer Nate Paul. The impeachment articles accused Paxton of using his position to assist Paul in a variety of legal matters. However, Paxton’s defense team argued that there was no clear evidence to support these allegations.
In addition to the allegations of corruption, Paxton was also accused of accepting bribes and obstructing justice. The prosecutors presented testimonies from former Paxton staffers who alleged that they were instructed to perform personal and illegal tasks for the Attorney General. However, Paxton denied these allegations and presented evidence to counter the prosecution’s claims.
The impeachment trial also shed light on the strained relationship between Paxton and his wife, Senator Angela Paxton. The fact that she was barred from participating in the vote raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and seemed to further divide public opinion on the case.
While many Republicans rallied behind Paxton, arguing that he is a dedicated public servant who has been targeted for his conservative beliefs, others believe that his acquittal reflects a failure of the justice system to hold powerful politicians accountable for their actions.
The decision to delay deliberation on the remaining four impeachment articles also raises concerns about the thoroughness of the trial. Critics argue that these articles should have been fully considered before rendering a final verdict.
Ultimately, the impeachment trial of Ken Paxton highlights the complex nature of political trials and the difficulties in achieving a fair and unbiased outcome. As the dust settles and opinions continue to be voiced from both sides, the consequences of this trial will have lasting effects on the reputation of Texas politics and the public’s trust in their elected officials.
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