Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faced a significant blow on Saturday as the state’s Republican-led House of Representatives impeached him on charges that included unproven allegations of bribery and abuse of public trust.
With a vote of 121-23, Paxton’s impeachment now places him among the ranks of only three sitting officials in Texas’ nearly two-century history to face such a fate.
BREAKING: The “Republican” supermajority in the Texas House of Reps has voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton on a 121-23 vote.
He will now be suspended from office pending a trial in the state senate.
Here’s how every Rep voted 👇 pic.twitter.com/LzaDzRSAcd
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 27, 2023
The impeachment proceedings trigger Paxton’s immediate suspension from office, pending a trial in the state Senate. It also empowers Republican Governor Greg Abbott to appoint an interim replacement for Texas’ top legal position.
The Office of the Attorney General on Saturday released a statement refuting the basis of the Texas House’s impeachment articles.
The Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) released a comprehensive report that unequivocally refutes incorrect testimony that was heard in the House General Investigating Committee. Based on the inaccuracies, falsehoods, and misstatements provided in that testimony, the Texas House chose to proceed with the illegal impeachment of Attorney General Paxton.
The General Investigating Committee’s politically motivated investigation against Attorney General Paxton is predicated on long-disproven claims grounded in hearsay and gossip. In August of 2021, after nearly a year of diligent investigation into these claims from former employees, the Office of the Attorney General released an exhaustive report that ultimately refuted each of the former employees’ allegations. In that report, the OAG stated it would further investigate the allegations and supplement as necessary. Subsequently, the OAG retained an outside law firm to conduct further investigation into the claims of retaliation by the former employees.
This law firm investigation culminated in a report that documents the OAG’s legitimate, non-retaliatory grounds for terminating each of these individuals. This report, along with other clarifying and ultimately exonerating information, could have been readily available to the committee investigators had they merely asked.
Furthermore, an official from the Office of the Attorney General was physically present at a hearing of the House General Investigating Committee on Thursday, May 25. The official offered to testify and sought to inform the House General Investigating Committee about this matter, including by supplying the report, which the official had a physical copy of with him. However, the House General Investigating Committee specifically chose to ignore the official’s offer to testify because they were narrowly focused on advancing an illegal action that would disenfranchise voters who duly elected the Attorney General. 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.
In light of the irresponsible, unfounded, and illegal impeachment of Attorney General Paxton, the Office of the Attorney General is now releasing the report.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton characterized the impeachment as “political retribution.”
“They disregarded the law, ignored the facts and demonstrated contempt for Texas voters,” Paxton said. “Texas voters now know that Speaker Phelan and the corrupt politicians he controls are more focused on political retribution against conservatives than the welfare of the people.”
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas defended Paxton as “the strongest conservative AG in the country,” and called for the courts to sort out the legal controversies.
“What is happening to Ken Paxton is a travesty. For the last nine years, Ken has been the strongest conservative AG in the country. Bar none. No attorney general has battled the abuses of the Biden administration more ferociously — and more effectively — than has Paxton,” Cruz said.
“That’s why the swamp in Austin wants him out. The special interests don’t want a steadfast conservative AG. I understand that people are concerned about Ken’s legal challenges. But the courts should sort them out.”
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to criticize Texas Gov. Greg Abbott remaining silent about Paxton’s suspension and imminent removal as attorney general.
“MISSING IN ACTION! Where is the Governor of Texas on his Attorney General’s Impeachment?” Trump posted.
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OPINION: This article contains commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Source: Becker News Rephrased By: InfoArmed