Texas Senate Acquits Attorney General Ken Paxton in Corruption Trial
The Texas Senate, dominated by Republicans, has acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton in a two-week impeachment trial focused on allegations of corruption. The trial centered on claims that Paxton misused his office to protect a real estate developer named Nate Paul, who was indicted on federal charges. Paxton’s defense team argued that the House failed to prove their case, calling the impeachment a political witch hunt. After about eight hours of deliberation, the Senate voted to acquit Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment he faced.
During the trial, the House impeachment managers presented evidence to support their corruption case against Paxton. Former aides of Paxton testified about their concerns regarding his business relationship with Paul and his romantic involvement with Laura Olson, who worked for Paul. They also detailed Paxton’s efforts to assist Paul, which included discussions of burner phones and disagreements over the payment for kitchen countertops in Paxton’s home renovation project. The managers argued that Paxton’s extramarital affair could explain his determination to help Paul avoid the federal investigation that led to his indictment on fraud charges. However, the trial did not include testimony from Olson, which could have been crucial to the bribery charge.
Despite his acquittal, Paxton’s political career is still at risk. He faces an ongoing federal investigation into the same allegations that resulted in his impeachment, a disciplinary proceeding over his attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and felony securities fraud charges dating back to 2015. Nonetheless, his reinstatement as Texas Attorney General and his alignment with conservative causes, including supporting Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn President Joe Biden’s electoral victory, have maintained his popularity among conservatives.
The impeachment of Paxton has caused division within the Texas Republican Party. Although a Republican-majority House voted overwhelmingly to impeach him, the prosecution during the trial was led by mostly Republican House managers. Paxton is only the third state official to be impeached in Texas’ history and the first statewide officeholder to face impeachment since 1917.
Despite concerns of political damage, the acquittal in the Senate indicates that Paxton’s position as Texas Attorney General remains secure for now. As the federal investigation and other legal challenges continue, Paxton’s future in politics will remain uncertain. The outcome of these cases will determine whether Paxton can maintain his role as a prominent conservative figure in Texas and nationally.
