The Texas Senate is currently deliberating the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton over corruption allegations that have plagued him throughout his tenure. After nearly two weeks of testimony, the impeachment managers from the Texas House made their final appeal to the Senate jury on Friday. They argued that Paxton is unfit for office and abused his power to protect a political donor who was under FBI investigation. Republican state Rep. Andrew Murr emphasized the need to hold public officials accountable for abusing their powers.
Paxton, a three-term Attorney General with a history of scandal and criminal charges, is facing a significant test of his political future as his fellow Republicans drive his impeachment. If convicted, Paxton would become the first statewide official in Texas to be convicted on impeachment charges in over a century. The verdict is expected to be delivered later on Friday.
In his closing arguments, Paxton’s lawyer Tony Buzbee launched attacks on various figures involved in the case, both inside and outside the Texas Capitol. He portrayed the impeachment as a political plot orchestrated by GOP rivals, singling out George P. Bush, the nephew of former President George W. Bush, who challenged Paxton in the 2022 Republican primary. Buzbee argued that the impeachment is a political witch hunt and questioned the integrity of FBI agents and Texas’ established political dynasty.
Paxton, who had attended only the initial few hours of the trial, returned and sat at the defense table during the closing arguments. His absence from the trial did not go unnoticed, with impeachment managers criticizing him for not taking the proceedings seriously. Paxton’s wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, was present but cannot participate in the deliberations or vote on her husband’s fate.
The impeachment trial has garnered little public attention, but three of Paxton’s former deputies who reported him to the FBI in 2020 were present in the Senate gallery. They testified against Paxton, including former Texas Ranger David Maxwell.
During closing arguments, the defense focused on asserting that there was either no evidence to support the charges against Paxton or that the evidence didn’t meet the reasonable doubt standard. The House impeachment managers, on the other hand, presented specific documents and played clips of testimony from the deputies who reported Paxton to the FBI.
One of the impeachment articles revolves around Paxton’s alleged extramarital affair with Laura Olson, who worked for real estate developer Nate Paul. It suggests that Paul’s hiring of Olson amounted to a bribe. Olson was called to testify this week but ultimately did not appear.
The verdict will be determined by 30 state senators, majority of whom are Republicans. Convicting Paxton on any of the 16 articles of impeachment requires a two-thirds majority. If all 12 Democrats vote to convict, they will need nine Republicans to join them.
Deliberations will be conducted privately, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has stated that the trial will continue through the weekend if necessary.
With time running out, Paxton received renewed support from former President Donald Trump, who criticized the impeachment as shameful on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump’s endorsement carries weight in a state where he is highly popular among Republicans.
Paxton faces various legal troubles beyond the impeachment trial. He is still under federal investigation for the same allegations that led to his impeachment and also faces a bar disciplinary proceeding related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Paxton has yet to stand trial on state securities fraud charges from 2015, and his lawyers have suggested that removal from office could potentially lead to a plea agreement.
Overall, the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton has caused significant divisions within the Republican Party in Texas and could have far-reaching implications for his political future.
