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Texas Senate Nears Decision on Removal of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton Amidst Corruption Allegations

by Michael Nguyen
7 comments
Texas Senate Impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton

The Texas Senate concluded its debate this past Saturday on whether Attorney General Ken Paxton should be ousted from his position, setting the stage for a potentially historic impeachment verdict.

A jury consisting of 30 senators, the majority of whom belong to the Republican party, deliberated for approximately eight hours in a confidential setting. Convicting Paxton would necessitate a two-thirds majority vote on any of the 16 articles of impeachment leveled against him, which include allegations of bribery, corruption, and being unfit for public service.

As the voting commenced, Paxton was found not guilty on the first seven articles of impeachment. He was conspicuously absent from the Senate chamber during the voting process and had also abstained from attending most of the two-week-long trial.

Approximately 50 members of the public were present in the Senate gallery as voting resumed shortly after 11 a.m. Central Time. Among the early attendees were three former deputies of Paxton—David Maxwell, Ryan Vassar, and Blake Brickman—who had previously reported him to the FBI in 2020 and served as crucial witnesses for the House impeachment managers. These former deputies displayed no noticeable reactions when Paxton was acquitted on the sixth article, which concerned the termination of whistleblowers.

The voting process is expected to be protracted and public. Each article of impeachment will be subjected to a separate vote. With Republicans holding a 19-12 majority in the Senate, all Democrats would need an additional nine Republican senators to vote in favor of conviction.

Beginning on Friday, the extended duration of the closed-door deliberations has created an unusual air of uncertainty regarding the potential outcome in the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature.

The trial has thrust the Texas Republican party into uncharted territory as they weigh the allegations that Paxton leveraged his office’s powers to protect a political contributor under FBI scrutiny. The gravity of the proceedings has further tested Paxton’s political resilience, especially considering that the impeachment efforts have been spearheaded by members of his own party, thereby deepening the partisan rift within the GOP in America’s largest red state.

In the concluding arguments made on Friday, House impeachment managers portrayed Paxton as a corrupt official who must be removed. “Failure to hold public officials accountable for abuse of power would render our governance impotent,” stated Republican state Representative Andrew Murr, who was instrumental in initiating the impeachment process.

Should Paxton be convicted, he would be the first Texas statewide official to face such an outcome in over a century. A decision could potentially be reached later on Saturday.

During the closing stages of the trial, Paxton’s legal counsel, Tony Buzbee, aggressively countered the allegations by indicting a broad spectrum of individuals both within and outside the Texas Legislature. Buzbee depicted the impeachment proceedings as a politically-motivated attack led by GOP rivals, specifically naming George P. Bush, the nephew of former President George W. Bush, as being among those orchestrating the effort.

The case against Paxton primarily hinges on claims that he misused his office to assist Nate Paul, an Austin-based real estate developer under indictment for making false statements to financial institutions. Paul has entered a not-guilty plea.

Paxton’s legal predicaments extend beyond the ongoing impeachment trial. A federal investigation will continue irrespective of the Senate’s decision. Furthermore, he also faces a disciplinary proceeding over his attempts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election and pending state securities fraud charges dating back to 2015. Although he has pleaded not guilty in the state case, his legal team has suggested that removal from office could facilitate a plea deal.

This report was contributed to by Big Big News writers Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Jim Vertuno in Austin.

For comprehensive coverage of the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, please visit: https://bigbignews.net/ken-paxton

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Texas Senate Impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton

What is the Texas Senate deliberating about?

The Texas Senate recently concluded its deliberations on whether Attorney General Ken Paxton should be removed from office over corruption charges. The Senate is now nearing a potentially historic impeachment verdict.

Who are the key players involved in the impeachment trial?

The key players include Attorney General Ken Paxton, the jury of 30 Texas senators, and House impeachment managers. Three of Paxton’s former deputies—David Maxwell, Ryan Vassar, and Blake Brickman—are also significant, having reported him to the FBI in 2020 and served as crucial witnesses during the trial.

What are the charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton?

Ken Paxton faces 16 articles of impeachment that accuse him of bribery, corruption, and being unfit for public office. These charges largely relate to allegations that he abused his position to protect a political donor under FBI investigation.

How many votes are needed to convict Ken Paxton?

A two-thirds majority vote from the 30-member Senate jury is required to convict Paxton on any of the articles of impeachment. Given that Republicans hold a 19-12 majority in the Senate, all Democrats would need an additional nine Republican senators to vote in favor of conviction.

What has been the public reaction to the trial?

Approximately 50 members of the public were present in the Senate gallery when voting resumed. However, the article does not provide detailed information on the overall public sentiment regarding the trial.

How have internal Republican dynamics been affected by this trial?

The trial has deepened divisions within the Republican party in Texas and put them in uncharted territory. The impeachment proceedings were even spearheaded by members of Paxton’s own party, which has contributed to a widening of the partisan rift within the GOP.

What legal repercussions could Paxton face beyond impeachment?

Beyond impeachment, Ken Paxton is also under federal investigation for similar corruption allegations. He faces a disciplinary proceeding over his attempts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election and has pending state securities fraud charges dating back to 2015.

Could the impeachment lead to a plea deal in other cases against Paxton?

Although not confirmed, Paxton’s legal team has suggested that if he is removed from office, it might open the door for a plea agreement in his other pending legal cases.

Who provided contributions to the reporting of this story?

This report was contributed to by Big Big News writers Jake Bleiberg in Dallas and Jim Vertuno in Austin.

Where can I find comprehensive coverage of the impeachment trial?

For full coverage of the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, you can visit: https://bigbignews.net/ken-paxton

More about Texas Senate Impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton

  • Impeachment Process in the United States
  • Texas State Senate
  • Who is Ken Paxton?
  • Legal Definition of Corruption Charges
  • Bribery Laws in the United States
  • Understanding Texas Politics
  • Federal Investigations: An Overview
  • The Role of an Attorney General
  • The GOP and Internal Party Dynamics
  • Texas State Securities Fraud Laws

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7 comments

JohnDoe84 September 16, 2023 - 6:16 pm

Wow, this is huge news. Cant believe its the Republicans bringing down one of their own. Or trying to at least.

Reply
CryptoQueen September 16, 2023 - 10:26 pm

Seems like a political civil war within the Texas GOP. And yet, Paxton might still escape unscathed, unbelievable.

Reply
SandraTX September 17, 2023 - 12:46 am

if Paxton gets convicted, its gonna be a historic moment for Texas, no statewide official has been impeached in over 100 years.

Reply
Vote2024 September 17, 2023 - 2:31 am

Two-thirds majority to convict? with a 19-12 Republican majority, the odds are in Paxtons favor. But who knows? Crazy times.

Reply
MikeFinance September 17, 2023 - 11:02 am

Bribery, corruption, and unfitness for office? And still not convicted on the first 7 charges? What are they waiting for, seriously.

Reply
JenJournalist September 17, 2023 - 12:35 pm

Talks dragging out for more than a day behind closed doors, that’s a rare level of uncertainty in Texas politics. Usually things are more predictable with the Republican majority.

Reply
LegalEagle September 17, 2023 - 2:45 pm

Conviction or not, the guy faces other legal troubles. It’s a lose-lose situation for him from here on. Unless some magic happens, of course.

Reply

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