Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, impeached and suspended until Senate trial.

Ken Paxton Impeached by Texas House of Representatives

The Texas House of Representatives made history on Saturday by impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton following an investigation into allegations of corruption. This unprecedented move was supported by a 121-23 vote, with two members voting present. As a result, Paxton has been temporarily suspended from his office and now awaits trial in the Senate.

What are the Allegations?

Paxton faced a total of 20 articles of impeachment, including violating the state’s whistleblower law, entering into a settlement agreement with whistleblowers that provides for payment of the settlement from public funds, violating the Securities Act, and other activities. The articles were filed after a lengthy investigation into Paxton’s conduct.

Fun Fact: According to Axios, Paxton is only the third state official in Texas history to be impeached, following a former governor in 1917 and a judge in 1975.

Paxton’s Response

Following the impeachment, Paxton took to Twitter to express his disappointment, claiming that the impeachment is “illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust.” However, many Texans disagree with his statement and support the House’s decision.

I am beyond grateful to have the support of millions of Texans who recognize that what we just witnessed is illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust. I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just. pic.twitter.com/fEiAroA2DW

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) May 27, 2023

What’s Next?

On Tuesday, it was revealed that the state House Committee on General Investigating was probing Paxton’s attempt to settle a 2020 lawsuit using an alleged $3.3 million in public money. As part of its investigation, the committee has subpoenaed Paxton’s office for records. Four former employees of the attorney general’s office brought the suit in 2020, claiming they were retaliated against after accusing Paxton of corruption. The state legislature refused to fund the settlement, so the case continues to work its way through the courts.

Tim Pearce contributed to this report.