Ken Paxton impeachment updates: Texas GOP chair denounces “sham” proceedings
- Texas GOP chair stands by Paxton
- Accusations include bribery, obstruction of justice and dereliction of official duty
- Here’s how the impeachment process works
- Despite scandals, voters have repeatedly backed Paxton
Texas GOP chair stands by Paxton
“This sham impeachment is the result of the Phelan leadership team empowering Democrats, allowing them to hold leadership positions and letting them control the agenda,” Rinaldi said in a statement Friday.
— Alex Nguyen
Accusations include bribery, obstruction of justice and dereliction of official duty
Paxton has faced allegations of wrongdoing for years, but Texas Republicans have largely avoided taking any official action against him. Shortly after first taking office, he was indicted on state securities fraud charges, a criminal case he continues fighting. In 2020, senior officials in his office asked the FBI to investigate allegations that he had abused his authority to help a wealthy friend and donor. Those claims led to a whistleblower lawsuit alleging Paxton retaliated against his former deputies.
For a full list of the impeachment charges, click here.
— Chuck Lindell, James Barragán and Patrick Svitek
Here’s how the impeachment process works
For a more detailed version — including a visual flow chart — of what happens, click here.
— María Méndez and Alex Ford
Despite scandals, voters have repeatedly backed Paxton
It was not a foregone conclusion. Political observers considered Paxton the weakest of all GOP incumbents running for reelection in 2022. Here’s what the Tribune wrote on election night:
“The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,” Paxton said in his victory speech from Collin County.
Surrounded that night by supporters, members of the attorney general’s office and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, Paxton said he would continue to fight the federal government’s “overreach” into state affairs. Paxton has been a leader in challenging policies implemented by Democratic presidents on immigration, expansion of LGBTQ rights and COVID-19 vaccine requirements.
“Just because we won tonight, the fight is not over,” he said. “They’re going to continue to come after me, they’re going to continue to come after Texas. They’re going to continue to come after Republicans around the country and we cannot let them win.”
— Nic Garcia