By JAKE BLEIBERG and PAUL J. WEBER (Associated Press)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton started Tuesday and hurtled Republicans right into a reckoning over whether or not to oust a distinguished member of their social gathering after years of alleged corruption or stand with considered one of former President Donald Trump’s greatest defenders.
The historic trial — the primary impeachment proceedings in Texas in practically a half-century — is the gravest risk thus far for Paxton, who has spent practically his complete three phrases in workplace beneath felony indictment on securities fraud fees and, later, the clouds of an ongoing FBI investigation.
In an period of bitter partisanship throughout the U.S., the trial is a uncommon occasion of a political social gathering in search of to carry considered one of its personal to account for allegations of wrongdoing. For years in Texas, many Republicans have resisted criticizing or dealing with head-on the litany of authorized troubles surrounding Paxton, who has remained common among the many onerous proper by aligning himself intently to Trump and speeding his workplace into lawsuits which have halted priorities of the Biden administration.
With his political profession on the road, Paxton didn’t stick round for the complete first day of the trial, which was carried dwell on TV stations throughout Texas. He sat on the protection desk within the morning however didn’t return for opening statements, and it was not clear when or whether or not he would return.
“Mr. Paxton should be removed from office because he failed to protect the state and instead used his elected office for his own benefit,” mentioned Republican state Rep. Andrew Murr, one of many House impeachment managers main the case towards Paxton.
“In Texas, we require more from our public servants than merely avoiding being a criminal,” he mentioned.
The proceedings received off to a bumpy begin for Paxton, with Republican senators rejecting his quite a few requests to dismiss most of the 20 impeachment fees. And though dozens of his supporters watched from the Senate gallery, together with some who confirmed up on the Texas Capitol earlier than dawn, many rows remained empty.
As the articles of impeachment had been formally learn aloud, Paxton’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, answered the fees by calling them unfaithful or incorrect and saying his shopper pleads not responsible. When the proceedings resumed later with out Paxton, Buzbee mentioned the principles solely required him to be there firstly.
At the center of the case are accusations that Paxton abused his workplace to assist considered one of his donors, Austin actual property developer Nate Paul, who was indicted this summer season on fees of constructing false statements to a financial institution to safe greater than $170 million in loans. Buzbee mentioned Paxton “gave nothing of significance” to Paul and framed the proceedings as an try to overturn the need of voters.
“This whole case is a lot of nothing,” Buzbee mentioned.
In one victory for Paxton, the presiding officer dominated that he can’t be compelled to testify in the course of the proceedings, which may final for weeks.
Paxton’s destiny is within the arms of the GOP-controlled state Senate, the place a dominant Republican majority consists of Paxton’s spouse, underscoring the numerous entanglements Paxton has in a chamber that may resolve his political future. Sen. Angela Paxton can attend the trial however is barred from voting on whether or not her husband ought to be convicted or acquitted.
Shortly earlier than the trial started, Ken and Angela Paxton spoke for a couple of minutes on the Senate ground and shared a quick kiss.
The Republican-led House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to question Paxton in May. The 20 articles of impeachment embody abuse of public belief, unfitness for workplace and bribery. The 121-23 vote instantly suspended Paxton and made him solely the third sitting official in Texas’ practically 200-year historical past to be impeached.
Paxton has decried the impeachment as a “politically motivated sham” and an effort to disenfranchise his voters. The lawyer normal’s legal professionals say he received’t testify within the Senate trial. He has mentioned he expects to be acquitted.
Paxton faces trial by a jury — the 31 state senators — stacked along with his ideological allies and a “judge,” Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who loaned $125,000 to his final reelection marketing campaign. Two different senators play a task within the allegations towards Paxton.
Over the weekend, Ken and Angela Paxton rallied supporters at a picnic close to their hometown in suburban Dallas. It was a uncommon public look for Paxton, who instructed the group he couldn’t focus on the trial on account of a gag order however attacked Republicans who led his impeachment within the Texas House.
“Let’s clean house,” Paxton instructed the group.
Peter Bowen, 74, drove from Houston at 3:30 a.m. to be in line for the Senate earlier than dawn. He mentioned Paxton, who was reelected to a 3rd time period final November, was impeached due to his help for Trump, and that voters have already made clear the place they stand.
“We all knew about them, and we elected him. What they are doing is taking away the vote of the majority of the people of Texas,” Bowen mentioned.
“It is the Austin swamp,” mentioned Kaci Sisk, who heads a bunch of conservative Paxton supporters close to San Antonio. “This thing has been a sham from the start.”
A two-thirds majority — or 21 senators — is required for conviction, which means that if all 12 Senate Democrats vote towards Paxton, they nonetheless want at the least 9 of the 19 Republicans to hitch them.
The trial will possible carry forth new proof. But the define of the allegations towards Paxton has been public since 2020, when eight of his prime deputies reported him to the the FBI.
The deputies — largely conservatives whom Paxton handpicked for his or her jobs — instructed investigators that Paxton had gone towards their recommendation and employed an outdoor lawyer to probe the FBI’s allegations of Paul’s wrongdoing. They additionally mentioned Paxton pressured his employees to take different actions that helped Paul.
In return, Paul allegedly employed a former aide to a Republican state senator with whom Paxton acknowledged having had an affair and bankrolled the renovations of one of many lawyer normal’s properties, a million-dollar residence in Austin.
The two males bonded over a shared feeling that they had been the targets of corrupt legislation enforcement, based on a memo by one of many staffers who went to the FBI. Paxton was indicted on securities fraud fees in 2015 however has but to face trial. The Senate isn’t taking on, at the least initially, three impeachment articles in regards to the alleged securities fraud and a fourth associated to Paxton’s ethics filings.
Federal prosecutors proceed to look at Paul and Paxton’s relationship, so the proof offered throughout his impeachment trial poses a authorized in addition to a political danger to the lawyer normal.
After going to the FBI, all eight of Paxton’s deputies stop or had been fired. Their departures led to an exodus of different seasoned legal professionals and noticed the lawyer normal’s workplace consumed by dysfunction behind the scenes.
Four of the deputies later sued Paxton beneath the state whistleblower act. The bipartisan group of lawmakers who led Paxton’s impeachment within the House mentioned it was him in search of $3.3 million in taxpayer funds to settle with the group that prompted them to analyze his dealings.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”