Texas Senators Acquit AG Ken Paxton In Impeachment Trial

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) was acquitted by the state Senate of all charges at his historic impeachment trial after he was impeached by a Republican-controlled House on charges of bribery, abuse of office, and obstruction. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1703105668667064323 From the New York Times:

Despite a process overseen by Republicans, with Republicans in the defense and in the prosecution, the result ended in near party-line votes, with Republicans lining up behind Paxton.

Only two Republican senators voted in favor of conviction on any article. No article received even a majority vote for conviction.

Mr. Paxton, an incumbent championed by hard-core conservatives and former President Donald J. Trump, was tried on 16 articles of impeachment related to accusations, leveled primarily by former top deputies who became whistle-blowers, that Mr. Paxton had abused his office to help the real estate investor, Nate Paul, who was said to have given Mr. Paxton help with home renovations and an extramarital affair in return.

Bolding is mine. House impeachment managers had alleged that Paul helped Paxton cover up and accommodate an affair, and helped pay for renovations to Paxton’s Austin home. Paxton also remains under federal investigation and faces a long-delayed securities fraud trial. A majority of Republicans in the Texas House voted in May to impeach Mr. Paxton. https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1703104374631739647 https://twitter.com/Stonekettle/status/1703109852678025629 https://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1703099961330799101