Texas AG Ken Paxton calls impending impeachment vote 'political theater'

and the state’s hard-right conservatives, against House Republican leadership, who appear to have suddenly had enough of the allegations of wrongdoing that have long dogged Texas’ top lawyer.In a public statement on Friday, after which he did not take questions, Paxton called the impending impeachment vote against him "political theater."

His remarks come as the House prepares to consider whether to impeach the attorney general on 20 articles, including bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust. The House can call witnesses to testify, but the investigating committee already did that prior to recommending impeachment. The panel met for several hours Wednesday, listening to investigators deliver an extraordinary public airing of Paxton’s years of scandal and alleged lawbreaking.

"We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment by the House," the investigative committee wrote in a Friday memo.is led by his fellow Republicans, contrasting America’s most prominent recent examples of impeachment.

None of the state’s other top elected Republicans have voiced support for Paxton since. But the chairman of the state party came to Paxton’s defense Friday, issuing a statement calling the impeachment effort a "sham" based on "allegations already litigated by voters." In a twist, Paxton’s impeachment deals with an extramarital affair he acknowledged to members of his staff years earlier. The impeachment charges include bribery for one of Paxton’s donors, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, allegedly employing the woman with whom he had the affair in exchange for legal help.Texas Tribune's political reporter James Barragan continues to follow and report on a story about Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

On the hot seat: Texas lawmakers recommend impeaching Texas Attorney General Ken PaxtonIn an unanimous decision, a Republican-led investigative committee that spent months quietly looking into Paxton recommended impeaching the state’s top lawyer.
Source: FOX26Houston - 🏆 448. / 53 Read more »

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Likely Broke Laws, Republican Investigation FindsA Republican-led investigation on Wednesday accused Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of committing multiple crimes in office — including felonies — during an extraordinary public airing of scandal and alleged lawbreaking that plunged one of the GOP’s conservative stars into new political and legal risk.
Source: NBCDFW - 🏆 288. / 63 Read more »