Posted on by Randy Slovacek

Texas House Votes To Impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives has just voted 121-23 to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).

Paxton is facing 20 counts of impeachment from the Texas House led by members of his own party. He is the first attorney general impeached in Texas history.

The Texas Tribune reports “many of the articles of impeachment focused on allegations that Paxton had repeatedly abused his powers of office to help a political donor and friend, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul.”

The impeachment alleges multiple acts of blatant corruption involving his campaign donors, bribery, and improper uses of state funds, accompanied by clear violations of the law and his oath of office.

The state Senate will now hold a trial for the charges leveled against Paxton. State law says Paxton will be immediately suspended from office while he awaits trial. Permanently removing him from office will require a 2/3s vote by state Senators.

Related: Texas AG Ken Paxton Indicted by Grand Jury

As I’ve reported many times in the past, Paxton is one of the most virulently anti-LGBTQ officials in Texas. Last year, he tried to assert the Austin school district’s Pride events were illegal.

And in 2020, he asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Biden’s electoral defeat of Donald Trump.

During the impeachment debate today, Rep. Charlie Green (R) announced that Paxton had been calling House members threatening them with with “political consequences in their next election” if they dared to vote for his impeachment.