Embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) had been impeached by the Texas state House. He is suspended from office until the Texas state Senate delivers its verdict and sentence on the impeachment charges.
The Texas state Senate holds his political fate in its hands. Paxton could be removed from office and barred from holding office again in the state of Texas, or he could be found not guilty and returned to office. Or, presumably, anything in between.
The Houston Chronicle reports:
In a historic move Saturday, the Texas House of Representatives voted 121-to-23 in favor of impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton after considering the 20 articles of impeachment filed against him. Paxton faced several charges that ranged from bribery to abuse of public trust to obstruction of justice, reported journalists with the Associated Press.“The evidence is substantial. It is alarming and unnerving,” Texas state Rep. Andrew Murr was reported saying in the proceedings’ closing statements by The Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek. Murr, a Republican, chairs the House General Investigating Committee. This unprecedented vote means Paxton will be temporarily removed from office, per The Texas Tribune’s news team, and a trial will take place in the state Senate next. Depending on the trial’s outcome, Paxton may be officially relieved of his duties. It’s worth noting that Paxton’s wife, Angela Paxton, is a state senator.
Paxton responded that he looks “forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just.”
The vote to impeach was 121-23, with three members absent.
Prior to the vote, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) defended Paxton.
As did Donald Trump.
However, it was to no avail. Paxton is now suspended from office until the Senate determines his fate on the impeachment.
Now that Paxton is impeached, he is suspended from office pending a trial in the Senate.Senators will act as jurors and decide whether to remove Paxton from office.The Senate has until the end of session Monday to set a date for the trial.If the Senate’s leader, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, does not do that, Governor Greg Abbott will have the power to call senators back.
Paxton issued a statement prior to the vote. Watch:
The Texas Tribune is posting live updates if you wish to follow this developing story.
[FS: This post has been updated to note that Paxton is suspended from office upon impeachment. Thanks, LI commenter leoamery!]
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