Ken Paxton verdict heightens political tension ahead of education special session
The Texas House and Senate were already far apart on “school choice.” Anger over the impeachment trial might make it even harder to find common ground. Full Story
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been acquitted on 16 articles of impeachment, emerging victorious from another career scandal. He was accused of misusing the powers of his office to help his friend and donor Nate Paul, an Austin real estate investor who was under federal investigation. Paxton now returns, emboldened, to lead an institution that's vital to the conservative cause. The September 2023 impeachment trial escalated a Texas GOP civil war and his supporters have promised swift retribution against fellow Republicans.
The Texas House and Senate were already far apart on “school choice.” Anger over the impeachment trial might make it even harder to find common ground. Full Story
The request follows Patrick’s blistering denunciation of the House’s role impeaching the attorney general. Full Story
Paxton and Trump have long been closely aligned, with the Texas attorney general leading a lawsuit to challenge the 2020 presidential election results. Full Story
The impeachment proceedings, and the events that precipitated them, have left the Texas Office of the Attorney General in turmoil. Can Paxton steady the ship of an institution vital to the conservative cause? Full Story
The House impeachment managers faced a high bar: convincing enough Republican senators to vote against their own political self-interest. Full Story
Kelly Hancock and Robert Nichols broke from the rest of their party, but longtime observers said they weren’t surprised. Full Story
Finally freed of a gag order, the opposing sides pulled no punches after the attorney general was acquitted. Full Story
Democrats, however, said their GOP colleagues “caved” to outside pressure in voting to acquit and return Ken Paxton to his job as attorney general. Full Story
“This was the right outcome,” U.S. Ted Cruz said, while Gov. Greg Abbott said he looked forward to continuing to work with the attorney general. Full Story
The lieutenant governor criticized the House for a secretive and rushed process that “wasted” taxpayer dollars. The House speaker fired back, saying Patrick confessed his bias and contempt. Full Story
The attorney general’s long-simmering securities fraud case appears closer to resolution, while the FBI has probed the same allegations that played a major role in his impeachment. Full Story
Other public officials have begun weighing in after the attorney general was returned to his post as the state’s top lawyer. Full Story
Senators begin deliberating in private after defense lawyers and impeachment managers make impassioned pleas after two weeks of trial. Full Story
Impeachment at all levels of government are becoming more common, a political scientist said. It could make the political tool pointless. Full Story
Deliberations are expected to resume at 9 a.m. Saturday. Paxton is accused of misusing his office to help a friend and donor who was under federal investigation. Full Story
Senators will hear closing arguments beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, after which they will deliberate in private before emerging to cast votes on whether the attorney general can remain in office. Full Story
Watch a livestream of the attorney general’s impeachment trial and get the latest updates as senators weigh his political future. Full Story
The House prosecutors failed to call a star witness and battled with the defense attorneys over allegations the suspended attorney general had been bribed by Nate Paul. Full Story
Drew Wicker, Paxton’s former personal assistant, testified at Paxton’s impeachment trial that his boss used four cell phones and ditched his security to meet with Nate Paul. But Wicker also provided Paxton’s lawyer with a chance to attack a central bribery allegation. Full Story
Watch a livestream of the attorney general’s impeachment trial and get the latest updates as senators weigh his political future. Full Story