Paxton trial, Sept. 13: Woman in alleged affair with Paxton planned to plead the Fifth, doesn’t testify
Watch a livestream of the attorney general’s impeachment trial and get the latest updates as senators weigh his political future. Full Story
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Kate McGee covers higher education for The Texas Tribune. She joined the Tribune in October 2020 after nearly a decade as a reporter at public radio stations across the country, including in Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Austin; Reno, Nevada; and New York. Kate was born in New York City and raised primarily in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Fordham University. Her work has appeared on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “Here and Now,” and “The Takeaway.” She is based in Austin.
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to both parties moments after House prosecuting attorney Rusty Hardin rested the House's case during the seventh day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial on Sept. 13, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
“I did everything at his supervision”: Outside lawyer says Ken Paxton approved every step of Nate Paul investigation
Houston lawyer Brandon Cammack said he was excited to help the attorney general’s office with a criminal investigation. But after a whirlwind month, he was fired without payment and felt he’d “gotten the rug pulled out from me.” Full Story
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![Houston attorney Brandon Cammack answers questions from Rusty Hardin, a lead prosecutor for the House’s impeachment team, during the sixth day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial, on Sept. 12, 2023.]()
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Paxton trial, Sept. 12: Whistleblower says he feared Paxton had “turned over” his office to donor
A Paxton whistleblower testified that the attorney general took an unusual interest in Nate Paul’s litigation against a charity in 2020. Another said Paul benefited from an opinion on foreclosures. Full Story
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![Darren McCarty, whistleblower and former Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation under Ken Paxton, testifies and answers questions from Dick DeGuerin, a lead prosecutor for the House’s impeachment team, during the sixth day of Paxton’s impeachment trial on Sept. 12, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
“You’re on the clock”: How time constraints are affecting the Paxton impeachment trial
The prosecution and the defense were each given 24 hours to present their case and cross examine witnesses. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confers with the defense and prosecution at the start of the morning session of day three in suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial September 7, 2023 in Austin.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Pool for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton trial, Sept 8: AG’s former top cop says he warned Paxton about “criminal” Nate Paul
The former top cop for the attorney general’s office testified that complying with real estate investor Nate Paul’s requests would have amounted to criminal activity. Defense attorneys also questioned whistleblowers about their group texts. Full Story
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![Former Texas Ranger David Maxwell testifies as the fourth witness during the afternoon on day four of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial in the Texas Senate on Sept. 8, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
“It was not a mutiny”: Senior staff had no choice but to report Ken Paxton to the FBI, whistleblower testifies
Ryan Bangert, a former top official under the attorney general, said Paxton allowed a friend and political donor to hijack the state agency, diverting it from its mission to help all Texans. Full Story
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![Ryan Bangert, former first deputy assistant of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, testifies at the impeachment trial of Paxton at the Capitol on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: Jay Janner/Pool via Austin American-Statesman -
Paxton trial, Sept. 7: During new testimony, former AG deputy tears up responding to “rogue” allegations
Former attorney general officials testified that Ken Paxton pushed to release confidential FBI records to friend and donor Nate Paul. They also denied defense attorneys’ assertions that they staged a “mutiny.” Full Story
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![Whistleblower Ryan Vassar tears up during testimony on the third day of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial in the Texas Senate on Sept. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton trial, Sept. 6: Witnesses claim AG was fixated on Nate Paul
On the second day of the impeachment trial, former officials in the attorney general’s office say Ken Paxton’s relationship with real estate investor Nate Paul raised alarms. Defense attorney accused the witnesses of “staging a coup.” Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and his staff listen as defense lawyer Tony Buzbee, bottom right, cross examines former first assistant attorney general Jeff Mateer on the second day of the impeachment trial for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 in Austin.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton impeachment trial begins with sniping: “Slow creep of corruption” vs. “nothing of significance”
After senators rejected the suspended attorney general’s bid to dismiss all accusations against him, lawyers for both sides laid out their cases and impeachment managers called their first witness. Full Story
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![Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick calls the attorneys and staffs to the dais during the afternoon session of Day 1 of the Ken Paxton impeachment trial in the Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton cannot be forced to testify at his impeachment trial, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick rules
The suspended attorney general argued that he should have the same protection from testifying as any defendant in a criminal trial. Patrick, acting as trial judge, agreed. Full Story
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![From left: Attorney Tony Buzbee, suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton and attorney Dan Cogdell on the Senate floor on Sept. 5, 2023. The attorneys are part of the team defending Paxton in his Senate impeachment trial.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/Pool via The Dallas Morning News