Originally published May 31, 2023 7:48 am PDT
- The Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach State Attorney General Ken Paxton, a prominent conservative figure, on charges of bribery and breach of public trust.
- Paxton’s immediate suspension from his role awaits the outcome of a trial in the state Senate.
- The Office of the Attorney General released a report refuting the claims against Paxton and labeled the impeachment as politically motivated and illegal, accusing the committee of disregarding evidence.
- Paxton responded, condemning the impeachment as illegal and politically motivated, expressing confidence in a fair process in the Texas Senate.
Texas House of Representatives Votes to Impeach State Attorney General Ken Paxton on Charges of Bribery and Breach of Public Trust
On a landmark day in Texas politics, the state’s Republican-led House of Representatives made the decision to impeach State Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton, a notable figure in the conservative legal movement, on charges including bribery and a breach of public trust last Saturday.
The impeachment process, triggered by the House’s decision, leads to Paxton’s immediate suspension from his role, pending the results of a trial set to take place in the state Senate.
As a result, Governor Greg Abbott, also a Republican, has been granted the authority to appoint an interim Attorney General for the state of Texas.
The impeachment vote saw 121 in favor versus 23 opposed, marking a surprising downfall for Paxton, a leading figure in GOP legal battles.
Paxton notably petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020, seeking to invalidate the election victory of President Joe Biden over Donald Trump.
This event places Paxton in the history books as only the third official to be impeached in nearly two centuries of Texas’ history.
Following the impeachment vote, Paxton, aged 60, was quick to express his displeasure and dispute the decision, pointing out that internal reviews had not found any evidence of wrongdoing.
“The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just,” stated Paxton.
He went on to add, “It was a politically motivated sham from the beginning.”
Six employees from Paxton’s office have taken a leave of absence in defense of their boss: Solicitor General Judd Stone, Assistant Solicitor General Joseph N. Mazzara, Assistant Solicitor General Kateland Jackson, Senior Attorney Allison Collins, Executive Assistant Jordan Eskew, and Division Chief of the General Litigation Division Chris Hilton.
Texas AG Office Releases Report Refuting Claims, Alleges “Illegal Impeachment”
In a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”), a comprehensive report was released last week providing a point-by-point refutation of “inaccuracies, falsehoods, and misstatements” heard in the House General Investigating Committee.
The OAG has described the Committee’s investigation leading to the impeachment of Attorney General Paxton as “politically motivated” and “predicated on long-disproven claims grounded in hearsay and gossip.”
“The Texas House chose to proceed with the illegal impeachment of Attorney General Paxton,” the OAG press release stated.
They emphasized that their report “unequivocally refutes incorrect testimony” presented during the investigation.
The OAG had previously looked into the claims from former employees.
Back in August 2021, the OAG released “an exhaustive report that ultimately refuted each of the former employees’ allegations.”
It is noted that the OAG had even sought help from an outside law firm for additional investigation into the “claims of retaliation by the former employees.”
This further investigation reportedly led to a subsequent report, which stated the “OAG’s legitimate, non-retaliatory grounds for terminating each of these individuals.”
The OAG stressed that this report and “other clarifying and ultimately exonerating information” could have been made available to the committee investigators “had they merely asked.”
An official from the OAG, who attended a hearing of the House General Investigating Committee on Thursday, May 25, claimed that their offer to provide testimony and evidence was rejected by the Committee.
The OAG release alleges, “They were not interested in the truth. They were interested only in crafting a highly curated, one-sided case to overthrow the will of the voters.”
The OAG has labeled the impeachment of Attorney General Paxton as “irresponsible, unfounded, and illegal,” and in response, they have made the report public.
According to an update added to the press release on May 29, the investigation’s findings have been continuously updated, with the law firm Lewis Brisbois providing a report to the OAG in February 2023.
The press release explains that the report’s date automatically updates to the date it is opened, leading to the date of May 24, 2023, visible in the report.
This date was when Chief of General Litigation Chris Hilton printed the report, as the press release explains, “prior to attempting to provide the report to the House Committee on General Investigating.”
The OAG firmly believes that the impeachment proceedings against AG Paxton are politically driven and illegal, aiming to “disenfranchise voters who duly elected the Attorney General.”
Paxton’s Personal Statement on the Matter
In response to the impeachment by the Texas House, Attorney General Ken Paxton immediately issued a statement, decrying the move as an “illegal, unfounded, and unethical” act.
In his statement, Paxton said, “The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just.”
Paxton describes the proceedings as a “politically motivated sham,” saying his office made every effort to present “evidence, testimony, and irrefutable facts” that would refute the allegations against him.
However, Paxton claims Speaker Dade Phelan and the Murr-Johnson panel, which he appointed, “refused to consider anything that would interfere with their desired result. They disregarded the law, ignored the facts, and demonstrated contempt for Texas voters.”
According to Paxton, Texas voters are now aware that “Speaker Phelan and the corrupt politicians he controls are more focused on political retribution against conservatives than the welfare of the people.”
He criticized the House for not focusing on critical legislative issues such as strengthening the border, protecting elections, or preventing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from buying up Texas land, saying instead they chose to spend the final legislative session days “smearing me.”
Paxton went on to allege that “Phelan’s coalition of Democrats and liberal Republicans is now in lockstep with the Biden Administration, the abortion industry, anti-gun zealots, and woke corporations to sabotage my work as Attorney General.”
He highlighted his office’s ongoing litigation efforts “to stop illegal immigration, uphold the rule of law, and protect the constitutional rights of every Texan.”
The Attorney General expressed his belief in the steadfastness of the Texan people, stating, “But the people of Texas know that I have always had their back, and in return, they have always had mine.”
He framed the impeachment as an attack on Texan voters, stating it is about “the corrupt establishment’s eagerness to overpower the millions of Texas voters who already made their voices heard when they overwhelmingly re-elected me.”
Paxton ended his statement by expressing gratitude for the support of millions of Texans, who he believes recognize the impeachment as “illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust.”
He voiced anticipation for a “quick resolution in the Texas Senate,” where he expects a fair and just process.
Posting the statement on Twitter, he wrote, “I am beyond grateful to have the support of millions of Texans who recognize that what we just witnessed is illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust. I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just.”
