Murr: Paxton’s defenders should welcome a Senate trial

The committee retained a brain trust of seasoned, conservative prosecutors and investigators. For months, using skills honed over more than 100 combined years of prosecutorial experience, they interviewed witnesses, including 15 former high-level employees at the Office of the Attorney General under Paxton — all of whom, with one exception, expressed grave concerns that he would retaliate against them for giving those interviews.

Much of the alleged misconduct the committee uncovered involved behavior that occurred before the 2022 election. Some have incorrectly suggested that this evidence not be considered in an impeachment trial in the Senate. Legally, there is nothing to preclude its introduction. In fact, the last two officials to face impeachment were convicted for misconduct that occurred during prior terms.

Additionally, while some try to expand and redefine the House’s role in impeachment, the Constitution is clear. The Constitution vests the power to impeach in the House, and the power to try the accused officer and render judgments is vested in the Senate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment.

While we knew that some of our fellow Republicans would chafe at the attorney general’s impeachment, I cannot wrap my mind around those, such as the leaders of the party in Collin County, who suggest that the Senate should hold no trial at all.

For many of us who represent solidly conservative areas, the safest political choice might have been turning our gaze away from Paxton’s corruption. Fortunately, I serve in the Texas House with men and women who put principle above politics and, after reviewing the facts presented by our committee, took the difficult-but-necessary vote to impeach. The members of the House fulfilled our constitutional responsibility and adhered to our oaths of office, even when Paxton did not.

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