The Republican-controlled Texas State House voted to impeach their current Attorney General, Republican Ken Paxton. One of those voting for the impeachment, Republican Representative David Spiller, said of Paxton “He put the interest of himself over his staff who tried to advise him on multiple occasions that he was about to violate the law.”
Paxton responded to the impeachment on Twitter, writing, “The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be air or just. It was a politically motivated sham from the beginning.”
Paxton was impeached after a Texas House panel had asserted its investigation led them to believe that Paxton committed multiple violations and crimes, especially in acting to aid one of his biggest donors, Nate Paul. From KUT 90.5:
Investigators stated the evidence they uncovered shows multiple violations of the law and Paxton’s oath of office. They include: Gift to a public servant, abuse of official capacity, misuse of official information, and retaliation and official oppression. Some of the violations carry jail time.
Many of the allegations discussed by investigators were already known, but Wednesday’s House panel was the first time investigators spoke on them in a public forum. The level of detail was also unusual.
The main allegation is that Paxton released documents at the request of his donor, Nate Paul, connected to an FBI investigation to that same donor.
The impeachment was already in the works before Paxton’s recent call for the Republican Speaker of the State House, Dade Phelan, to resign for allegations that he was drunk while conducting businesses in the State House. Paxton stated, “After much consideration, it is with profound disappointment that I call on Speaker Dade Phelan to resign as the end of this legislative session.”
