Republicans were not in agreement about whether they supported suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Ken Paxton Impeachment
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.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
“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.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Former chief of staff for AG’s office details alarm over Ken Paxton’s alleged affair
“My heart broke for her,” Katherine “Missy” Cary said of Sen. Angela Paxton, Ken Paxton’s wife. Angela Paxton is disqualified from voting but has to attend the trial.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Paxton trial, Sept. 11: Whistleblower says political donor acted like he was the “real boss” of AG’s office
One whistleblower testified that Ken Paxton didn’t trust law enforcement after his own securities fraud indictment. Senators could begin deliberating the impeachment charges later this week.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Paxton empathized with Nate Paul’s distrust of law enforcement because of his own indictment, whistleblower testifies
Mark Penley testified that Paxton made numerous negative comments about the Texas Department of Public Safety because of his 2015 securities fraud case. “He doesn’t trust the [DPS] director and he feels like they ran a corrupt investigation on him,” he said.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Political warnings and accusations of misconduct: 6 main themes emerge in first week of Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial
The suspended attorney general’s lawyers focused on disloyalty and attacked evidence, while impeachment managers accused Paxton of excessive and obsessive misconduct. Neither side ignored the politics behind the case.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
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.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Paxton defense presses whistleblower on what evidence he brought to FBI
On cross examination, Paxton’s defense attorney launched into whistleblower Ryan Vassar for bringing no physical evidence when he and others reported their boss to the FBI. Vassar said he was a witness and not an investigator.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
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.”
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
“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.