Texas AG misconduct, lawbreaking, impeachment
-
Texas House impeaches Republican Attorney General
The Texas House impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday over allegations of bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust, a stunning rebuke of the conservative firebrand that at least temporarily forces him from office pending a state Senate trial that could lead to his permanent ouster.
The move against Paxton was engineered by his fellow Republicans, who have long controlled all three branches of state government. Only two officials in Texas’s nearly 200-year history have been impeached, both for misuse of public funds: A state district judge in 1975 and the governor in 1917, after a contentious proceeding that experts likened to Paxton’s impeachment.
Paxton, who has been under various investigations for years, had dismissed the impeachment effort as “political theater” based on “hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims” and an attempt to disenfranchise voters who elected him to a third term last November.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been impeached. Here’s why.
Many of the allegations that form the basis of the articles of impeachment surfaced in 2020, when Paxton’s top aides accused him of abuse of office to benefit a wealthy donor. They reported their concerns to the F.B.I., which began an investigation, although no charges were filed. Four of the aides were fired and filed suit alleging retaliation.
In February, they reached a $3.3 million settlement — contingent on the state paying. House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) balked at Paxton’s request for the payment from the annual budget, triggering a bipartisan House committee’s impeachment investigation. Earlier this week, the Republican-led committee recommended Paxton’s impeachment for “grave offenses.”
Of note, the Wall Street Journal did not note Paxton's party affiliation in its headline. Wonder why...
-
But has unleashed the most serious risk to Paxton is his relationship with another wealthy donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul.
Several of Paxton's top aides in 2020 told the FBI that they had became concerned the attorney general was misusing the powers of his office to help Paul over unproven claims that an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of his properties was afoot. The FBI searched Paul's home in 2019 but he has not been charged and his attorneys have denied wrongdoing. Paxton also told staff members that he had an affair with a woman who, it later emerged, worked for Paul.
The impeachment charges cover myriad accusations related to Paxton’s dealings with Paul. The allegations include attempts to interfere in foreclosure lawsuits and improperly issuing legal opinions to benefit Paul, and firing, harassing and interfering with staff who reported what was going on. The bribery charges stem from Paul allegedly employing the woman with whom Paxton had an affair in exchange for legal help and Paul allegedly paying for expensive renovations to Paxton's Austin home.
Other charges date back to Paxton’s still-pending 2015 felony securities fraud indictment, including lying to state investigators.
The eight aides who reported Paxton to the FBI were all fired or quit, and four later sued under Texas' whistleblower law, In February, Paxton agreed to settle the case for $3.3 million. But the Texas House must approve the payout and Phelan has said he doesn't think taxpayers should foot the bill.
-
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/27/donald-trump-ken-paxton-impeachment-00099105
Trump lashes out at Texas Republicans, calling them RINOs for impeaching Paxton.
Ted Cruz also voices support for Paxton.@Axtremus said in Texas AG misconduct, lawbreaking, impeachment:
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/27/donald-trump-ken-paxton-impeachment-00099105
Trump lashes out at Texas Republicans, calling them RINOs for impeaching Paxton.
Ted Cruz also voices support for Paxton.Forgot to include this:
Trump also thinks the impeachment process is so very unfair. -
7 counts of "Disregard of official duty."
2 counts of "Misapplication of public resources."
2 counts of "Constitutional bribery."
2 counts of "Obstruction of justice"
3 counts of "False statements in official records"
1 count of "conspiracy and attempted conspiracy"
1 count of "Dereliction of duty."
1 count of "Unfitness for office."
1 count of "Abuse of public trust." -
-
Impeach because of an extramarital affair?
Please.
I'm no Paxton fan, and from what I've read, he deserves to be removed from office. But, what do they have in this case, a blue dress?
Impeach because "morale is low?" How is it that Harris is still VEEP?
-
Paxton's lawyers
(Ignore the "Ultra MAGA" tag)
This cross is out of a movie quality.
"You went to the FBI with no evidence of crimes."
Testifying about what someone "might have done."
Umm, no evidence of a bribe.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
-
The Bushies are going to lose this one.
“Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”
Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton
-
-
@George-K said in Texas AG misconduct, lawbreaking, impeachment:
(Ignore the "Ultra MAGA" tag)
Good thing it’s not a cult.
@jon-nyc said in Texas AG misconduct, lawbreaking, impeachment:
@George-K said in Texas AG misconduct, lawbreaking, impeachment:
(Ignore the "Ultra MAGA" tag)
Good thing it’s not a cult.
Nag, just a Leftist attempt at controlling the language.
-
No question that had become a cult of personality. Fortunately it didn’t last long after he started governing and disillusioned most of the starry-eyed.
The high water mark where the wave broke was probably the Nobel Peace Prize (followed by bombing the Afghan wedding).
-
After a historic 10-day trial, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted Saturday by the state Senate on 16 charges of bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of office. He was immediately reinstated, ending a suspension that began in May with his impeachment by the state House.
The verdict could propel the conservative Republican’s political future at home and potentially on the national stage.
Senators had deliberated in private for more than eight hours before returning to the chamber to individually declare their decision in public on a form and then by voice. The process took about an hour and a half, a nearly full gallery looking on as the “yay” and “nay” votes were sounded over and over. Many resulted in the same 14-16 margin, with only two Republicans siding with the dozen Democrats; 21 votes were required for conviction.
Paxton, 60, was not present for any of it.
His impeachment centered on his effort to obtain $3.3 million in state funding to settle a lawsuit by senior aides. Some of those aides had become whistleblowers, so distressed by his interactions with wealthy Austin developer Nate Paul that they reported their boss to the FBI. Several testified for the prosecution, and they were in the gallery on Saturday to hear the senators’ verdict.
Some political observers said the acquittal showed that Texas Republicans have unified after the divisiveness that resulted in Paxton’s impeachment.
“It’s a demonstration of unity that we haven’t seen in a while,” said Jim Henson, who directs the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin. “You have an example of somebody who has successfully fought the system in the face of pretty strong evidence. It will be emboldening to people.”
The trial began Sept. 5, less than a year after the attorney general was reelected by a large margin to his third term — helped in no small part by the endorsement of former president Donald Trump.
Prosecutors argued that Paxton had turned his powerful office over to Paul and that the developer was using it to go after his enemies. But the defense team slammed the proceeding as a political witch hunt orchestrated by Paxton’s rivals. His conservative backers amplified that claim both in and outside of Texas.
In recent days, Trump surrogates and allies pressured Republican senators not to impeach Paxton, posting names and phone numbers of potential impeachment swing voters and urging Paxton supporters to phone their offices. Conservative activists threatened to mount primary challenges to those who voted to convict, as they already have against Republicans in the House.
