Texas AG Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial protection consists of claims of Republican plot to take away him

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has lengthy denied corruption accusations which have dogged him for years. But as his impeachment trial will get underway, one other protection is rising: that fellow Republicans plotted to oust him.

His attorneys have to date offered no proof within the trial, which continued Thursday, that Paxton was the sufferer of an try to exchange him. But as former aides give testimony about how Paxton pressured them to assist a political donor who was underneath FBI investigation, Paxton’s attorneys have raised questions on lobbyists and a gathering at Gov. Greg Abbott’s workplace, and have introduced up George P. Bush, who misplaced to Paxton in final yr’s Republican main.

“It was not a mutiny,” Ryan Bangert, one in every of Paxton’s former aides, testified Thursday a couple of group of deputies who reported their boss to the FBI in 2020. “We were protecting the interest of the state and protecting the interest of the attorney general and, in my view, signing our professional death warrant at the same time.”

The begin of the trial is placing into view how attorneys for Paxton, who has been shadowed by prison prices and an ongoing FBI investigating for years, intend to defend one in every of Texas’ strongest figures. Paxton has pleaded not responsible to the articles of impeachment, which middle on accusations of bribery and abuse of workplace.

The waving at a broad conspiracy is an extension of how Paxton has spent months denouncing his impeachment by the Republican-controlled House in May as a politically pushed assault by Democrats and rivals inside his personal celebration. It is a message amplified by his supporters on the far proper, who for years have cheered on Paxton as he elevated his nationwide profile by attempting to assist former President Donald Trump baselessly overturn the 2020 election and thru lawsuits in opposition to President Joe Biden’s administration.

The folks Paxton must finally persuade are Republican senators serving because the jury. A two-thirds majority – or 21 senators – is required for conviction, that means that if all 12 Democrats vote in opposition to Paxton, not less than 9 Republicans must be a part of them.

As the trial started this week, six Republicans voted repeatedly in favor of dismissing the articles of impeachment. Paxton could possibly be barred from workplace if he’s convicted.

He has not been within the Texas Senate for any of the testimony. He isn’t required to attend the entire proceedings and can’t be compelled to testify.

At the middle of the case are accusations that Texas’ high lawyer wrongfully used his energy to assist Austin actual property developer Nate Paul, a political supporter who was indicted this summer time on prices of creating false statements to banks.

Jeff Mateer, who was Paxton’s former second-in-command, testified Wednesday that after going to the FBI on Sept. 30, 2020, he and different deputies had a gathering with the governor’s workplace. On cross-examination, Paxton lawyer Tony Buzbee requested Mateer about whether or not he had communicated with Bush, the previous Texas land commissioner who unsuccessfully challenged Paxton in final yr’s Republican main.

He additionally requested whether or not Mateer was staging “a coup.” Mateer replied, “Absolutely not.”

Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze mentioned Paxton’s aides requested to fulfill with “senior staff” on the governor’s workplace and that the deputies have been advised to speak to Paxton. Eze mentioned in an e mail that Abbott’s workplace was not a part of any coordinated effort in opposition to Paxton and that the deputies didn’t say what they needed to debate.

Bush, who had been the one member of the Bush dynasty nonetheless in elected workplace earlier than shedding to Paxton, filed to resume his legislation license the day after Mateer and different aides reported their boss to the FBI. Buzbee supplied no proof that Bush had communicated with any of Paxton’s accusers, and Mateer mentioned he’s by no means spoken to Bush.

“You ever hear that old saying, ’There are no coincidences in Austin?” Buzbee requested. Mateer replied that he hadn’t.

Spokespersons for Bush didn’t instantly return messages in search of remark. He is on an inventory of greater than 100 potential witnesses within the trial.

Santosh Aravind, an Austin lawyer who has been following the case, mentioned these imprecise allusions to a broad conspiracy wouldn’t often be persuasive in an everyday trial.