AUSTIN, Texas ,US~ A historic impeachment trial in the Texas Senate, which might involve Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s wife Sen. Angela Paxton on the jury that decides his fate, will begin no later than August.
The impeachment exposed deeper divisions in America’s biggest red state than just whether Republicans will oust one of the GOP’s conservative legal stars, and setting a schedule was one of the last orders of business lawmakers took on Monday during an acrimonious end to this year’s legislative session in Texas. It forces Republicans, who have for years pushed fast-changing Texas further to the right, into an election season in which they will undoubtedly be dragged down by unfinished business and bad blood.
For Republican Governor Greg Abbott, whose agenda was stalled in the GOP-controlled legislature, the stakes are even higher. The first of what he promised would be “several” special meetings in the following months was called almost immediately. Abbott has been mute on Paxton ever since impeachment procedures began last week, but he was not mentioned in his remarks.
After nearly a decade of scandal and criminal accusations that have hounded the state’s top lawyer, Paxton is at the center of the debate in the Texas Capitol. This weekend, the GOP-controlled House impeached him on counts of bribery and misuse of office. The state senate has ordered him to be removed from office awaiting trial, which must begin no later than August 28.
senators who could serve as jurors, highlighting the consequences of impeaching Paxton.
Texas Republicans began the year with massive GOP majorities after a resounding midterm victory, a historic $33 billion surplus, and a governor viewed as a prospective 2024 presidential contender. The governor’s impeachment made for a dramatic conclusion to the state’s 140-day legislative session. Instead of taking a well-deserved victory lap last spring, Republicans spent months fighting amongst themselves over whether or not to fulfill campaign pledges to reduce property taxes and expand access to school vouchers for youngsters attending public schools.
Abbott, who was mute at the close of the meeting, had prioritized both of these issues. He has said nothing publicly about Paxton since impeachment procedures began last week, but he does have the power to appoint an interim attorney general. Disagreements are nothing new in the Lone Star State, and Republicans have recently passed a number of measures they’ve touted as successes for conservatives, such as a prohibition on gender-affirming care and the elimination of offices of diversity, equity, and inclusion at colleges across the state.
They also enacted new rules that resulted to the firing of the elections administrator in Harris County, the largest county in Texas and the third largest in the country, which is controlled by Democrats. In the nearly 200-year history of Texas, Paxton is only the third sitting official to be impeached. The investigation conducted by the House that resulted to his impeachment was described by him as “corrupt,” and he has categorically denied any misconduct. Among the many allegations leveled against him is a securities fraud indictment and claims that he attempted to obstruct an FBI investigation into one of his donors by abusing his position of power.
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