Texas leaders react to Ken Paxton possibly facing impeachment
The five-member GOP-led investigative committee said Paxton likely violated many state laws, abused the power of his office for his own gain, and squandered office funds. The full chamber is expected to consider the matter soon, before the legislative session ends on Monday, May 29.
Paxton has been beset with legal troubles for the better part of a decade. He has been awaiting trial on an indictment for state securities fraud charges from 2015, according to NBC News. He was also sued in 2020 by four of his former aides, who alleged that he fired them for reporting him to federal law enforcement for allegedly taking bribes.
He also faces allegations of securing a job for a mistress through a donor he provided legal help to, the Houston Chronicle reports. That donor, Austin real estate investor Nate Paul, was also hired to renovate his $1 million home in Austin’s Tarrytown.
State Sen. Angela Paxton, who the attorney general is currently married to — and was married to at the time of the alleged affair — may be asked to vote on his impeachment. She could also face recusal from the vote, either by her own decision or one by the Texas Senate.
Despite the vote, Paxton tweeted the allegations against him are based on “hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims” and being championed by “RINOs (Republicans in name only).” However, others disagree.
A spokeswoman for Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) told the Washington Post that Paxton “appears to have routinely abused his powers for personal gain and exhibited blatant disregard for the ethical and legal propriety expected of the state’s leading law enforcement officer.”
The spokeswoman also said the speaker fully supports the committee “and the recommendations that may come as a result of their thorough and diligent investigation.” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a statement to Inside Texas Politics regarding Paxton.
“It comes to the Texas Senate, there will be a trial conducted. I’m not at liberty to say anything really beyond that because I will be presiding over that case and the senators – all 31 senators – will have a vote. We’ll set the rules for that trial as we go forward and we’ll see how that develops,” Patrick said.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro tweeted, “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is so corrupt that even Texas Republicans are formally trying to throw him out of office.” Texas State Representative Gene Wu commented on Twitter, saying “The guy whose entire staff quit in protest of his open corruption is really upset about being investigated for his open corruption.”
