Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial set to start: Key details
AUSTIN, Texas — State Senators Prepare for High-Stakes Trial to Impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton
State senators in Austin, Texas, are gearing up for what promises to be a tense and unpredictable trial to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. The three-term Republican, who was temporarily stripped of his duties in May, now faces the possibility of permanent banishment from public service and criminal charges if found guilty of corruption allegations, including bribery and abuse of public trust.
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Paxton, who has served alongside Governor Greg Abbott since 2015, has been a driving force behind legal efforts against Washington. However, his focus has shifted as he fights to clear his name. He is currently facing impeachment, making him only the third official in the state’s history to face such a trial.
Paxton’s Troubled Past
Paxton has been under federal charges for securities and fraud since 2015, but no progress has been made in that case. The impeachment proceedings primarily revolve around Paxton’s interactions with Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. Their relationship began in 2018 when Paul made a $25,000 campaign donation to Paxton.
In the same year, Paul defaulted on hundreds of millions of dollars in business loans and was later indicted by a grand jury on eight counts of lying to financial institutions. Paxton’s own deputy attorneys general reported him to the FBI in 2020, alleging that he illegally tried to help Paul fight the federal investigation. The deputies claimed that Paul paid favors to Paxton, including providing a job to a woman with whom Paxton was having an affair. They also alleged that Paul financed Paxton’s home renovations.
A Trial Comes to Fruition
Paxton was impeached by the state House in May, following the unanimous decision of the House Committee on General Investigating to file 20 articles of impeachment against him. The Texas House, controlled by Republicans, mostly abandoned Paxton in a vote of 121-23.
Paxton claimed that he was not allowed to present evidence in his defense during the impeachment process, calling it an act of political retribution. Former President Donald Trump promised to fight for Paxton, but Governor Abbott has remained silent to avoid interfering in the proceedings.
What to Expect in the Trial
The trial will be conducted like a civil or criminal trial, with the defendant’s lawyer and plaintiffs questioning witnesses, presenting their cases, and offering closing arguments to the senators. Paxton’s wife, Republican state Sen. Angela Paxton, will attend the trial but cannot vote due to a conflict of interest. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican and friend of Paxton’s, will preside over the Senate.
Paxton has been suspended without pay since his impeachment, but he could regain his position if he is cleared of the allegations. A conviction would strip him of his title, but he could still run for another term as attorney general or another office in the future, subject to a second vote by the Senate.
Public Opinion in Texas
Texans are divided over the trial, with 51% of registered voters believing that the effort to remove Paxton from office is justified based on his actions, according to recent polling. Democrats are more likely to support his removal, while Republicans are more divided on the matter.
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