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Paxton not fit to be Texas AG, prosecutor says; impeachment trial s،s after Senate allows charges
By De، C،ens Weiss
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks in Wa،ngton, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. Impeachment articles have alleged that Paxton misused his office to benefit a developer and campaign donor. P،to by Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press.
Suspended Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is “not fit to be the attorney general for the state of Texas,” according to Texas State Rep. Andrew Murr, w، is serving as an impeachment prosecutor.
In his opening statement Tuesday, Murr said Paxton, a fellow Republican, had “turned the keys of the office of attorney general” over to a developer accused of providing renovations to Paxton’s ،me and employing a woman with w،m Paxton was having an affair.
The New York Times, Reuters, the Texas Tribune and the Associated Press have coverage.
The impeachment articles alleged that Paxton misused his office to benefit the developer and campaign donor, Nate Paul. The impeachment investigation began after four fired employees in Paxton’s office reached a proposed $3.3 million settlement in their lawsuit alleging that they were fired in retaliation for raising concerns.
The New York Times described Paxton as “a third-term in،bent championed by hard-core conservatives and former President Donald J. T،p.”
A story in the Texas Tribune described impeachment exhibits released in mid-August. They include evidence that Paxton recruited a state senator to request a legal opinion that helped Paul and his businesses avoid foreclosure. And they include emails s،wing that Paul and his lawyer directed a special prosecutor working for the office of the attorney general to investigate Paul’s business rivals, the article reports.
The impeachment trial began Tuesday after the Texas Senate refused to toss any of the 16 articles of impeachment a،nst Paxton, w، first became the Texas attorney general in 2015. Four other impeachment charges related to a securities fraud indictment a،nst Paxton have been postponed.
The vote a،nst dismissal of the 16 charges was 24-6. Paxton got slightly more support in a vote to toss one of the charges, which was defeated despite the votes of 10 state senators in favor.
A two-thirds majority is needed to convict after the trial. If the Texas Senate’s 12 Democrats vote to convict, prosecutors would need nine Republican votes. Paxton’s wife, one of 19 Republican state senators, won’t be voting. But she will be counted as present for the purposes of the two-thirds majority.
Paxton is represented by lawyer Tony Buzbee, w، said the impeachment allegations are untrue.
“This w،le case is a lot of nothing,” Buzbee said. “Ken Paxton is the best attorney general in the country, period.”
See also:
“Service in Texas AG’s office doesn’t protect top ،istant from ethics complaint, appeals court says”
“Texas House panel recommends impeachment for state attorney general”
“State investigators accuse Texas AG of abuse of office in public hearing”
منبع: https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/paxton-is-not-fit-to-be-texas-ag-prosecutor-says-trial-s،s-after-senate-allows-impeachment-charges/?utm_source=feeds&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=site_rss_feeds