Texas House launches historic impeachment proceedings in opposition to Attorney General Ken Paxton

Texas’ Republican-led House of Representatives launched historic impeachment proceedings in opposition to Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday as Donald Trump defended the scandal-plagued GOP official from a vote that might result in his ouster.

The House convened within the afternoon to debate whether or not to question and droop Paxton from workplace over allegations of bribery, abuse of public belief and that he’s unfit for workplace — simply a few of the accusations which have trailed Texas’ prime lawyer for many of his three phrases.

The listening to units up what could possibly be a remarkably sudden downfall for one of many GOP’s most distinguished authorized combatants, who in 2020 requested the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Biden’s electoral defeat of Trump. Only two officers in Texas’ practically 200-year historical past have been impeached.

Paxton, 60, has known as the impeachment proceedings “political theater” based mostly on “hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims,” and an try and disenfranchise voters who reelected him in November. On Friday, he requested supporters “to peacefully come let their voices be heard at the Capitol tomorrow.”

As the proceedings started, Paxton supporters blended within the House public gallery with guests simply curious to see the federal government in motion.

“This is a coup,” mentioned Kathie Glass of Houston, who waited in line for an hour to get a seat. Dimitri Nichols, of Austin, mentioned: “Texas voters were aware of these allegations.”

In opening statements, Rep. Charlie Geren, a member of the committee that investigated Paxton, mentioned the legal professional normal had known as lawmakers and threatened them with political “consequences.” As the costs in opposition to Paxton have been learn, some lawmakers shook their heads. Impeachment is anticipated to be debated for 4 hours, adopted by closing remarks and the vote.

Paxton has been beneath FBI investigation for years over accusations that he used his workplace to assist a donor and was individually indicted on securities fraud fees in 2015, although he has but to face trial. Until this week his fellow Republicans have taken a muted stance on the allegations.

Impeachment requires only a easy majority within the House. That means solely a small fraction of its 85 Republicans would want to hitch 64 Democrats in voting in opposition to him.

If impeached, Paxton can be faraway from workplace pending a Senate trial, and it will fall to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to nominate an interim substitute. Final removing would require a two-thirds vote within the Senate, the place Paxton’s spouse’s, Angela, is a member.

Texas’ prime elected Republicans had been notably quiet about Paxton this week. But on Saturday each Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz got here to his protection, with the senator calling the impeachment course of “a travesty” and saying the legal professional normal’s authorized troubles needs to be left to the courts.

“Free Ken Paxton,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, including that if House Republicans proceed with the method, “I will fight you.”

Abbott, who lauded Paxton whereas swearing him in for a 3rd time period in January, is amongst those that have remained silent. The governor spoke at a Memorial Day service within the House chamber about three hours earlier than the scheduled begin of the impeachment proceedings. Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan additionally attended however the two appeared to change few phrases, and Abbott left with out commenting to reporters.

In one sense, Paxton’s political peril arrived with dizzying velocity: The House committee’s investigation of him got here to gentle Tuesday, and by Thursday lawmakers issued 20 articles of impeachment.

But to Paxton’s detractors, the rebuke was years overdue.

In 2014, he admitted to violating Texas securities legislation, and a 12 months later he was indicted on securities fraud fees in his hometown close to Dallas, accused of defrauding traders in a tech startup. He pleaded not responsible to 2 felony counts carrying a possible sentence of 5 to 99 years.

He opened a authorized protection fund and accepted $100,000 from an government whose firm was beneath investigation by Paxton’s workplace for Medicaid fraud. An extra $50,000 was donated by an Arizona retiree whose son Paxton later employed to a high-ranking job however was quickly fired after displaying little one pornography in a gathering. In 2020, Paxton intervened in a Colorado mountain group the place a Texas donor and school classmate confronted removing from his lakeside residence beneath coronavirus orders.

But what finally unleased the impeachment push was Paxton’s relationship with Austin actual property developer Nate Paul.

In 2020, eight prime aides informed the FBI they have been involved Paxton was misusing his workplace to assist Paul over the developer’s unproven claims that an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of his properties was afoot. The FBI searched Paul’s residence in 2019, however he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing. Paxton additionally informed workers members he had an affair with a girl who, it later emerged, labored for Paul.

The impeachment accuses Paxton of trying to intervene in foreclosures lawsuits and issuing authorized opinions to profit Paul. Its bribery fees allege that Paul employed the girl with whom Paxton had an affair in change for authorized assist and that he paid for costly renovations to the legal professional normal’s residence.

A senior lawyer for Paxton’s workplace, Chris Hilton, mentioned Friday that the legal professional normal paid for all repairs and renovations.

Other fees, together with mendacity to investigators, date again to Paxton’s still-pending securities fraud indictment.

Four of the aides who reported Paxton to the FBI later sued beneath Texas’ whistleblower legislation, and in February he agreed to settle the case for $3.3 million. The House committee mentioned it was Paxton looking for legislative approval for the payout that sparked their probe.