Houston lawyers Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, selected to prosecute the impeachment case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, revealed in an interview that the evidence against Paxton is more damning than anticipated. Speaking on the Y’all-itics podcast, they stated that the facts surrounding the case are worse than previously known. House Speaker Dade Phelan and State Rep. Andrew Murr reached out to DeGuerin and Hardin shortly after the impeachment vote, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. The lawyers expressed their commitment to the case, emphasizing that Paxton’s conduct poses a threat to the justice system. While federal authorities have been in communication with the committee, Paxton maintains that the allegations against him can be easily disproven. Convincing the jury of 31 senators, who are politicians with voter bases to consider, is expected to be a challenging task for even seasoned attorneys.
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The latest on the Ken Paxton impeachment is that his trial is scheduled to begin on September 5, 2023 in the Texas Senate. The Senate will act as a jury and decide whether to remove Paxton from office. Paxton has been accused of 20 counts of official misconduct, including abuse of office, bribery, and securities fraud. He has denied all of the charges.
The trial will be presided over by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a Republican who is seen as a Paxton ally. Patrick has said that he expects the trial to last about two weeks.
Paxton’s impeachment is the first time in Texas history that a sitting attorney general has been impeached. It is also the first time that a Republican has been impeached by the Texas House of Representatives.
The outcome of the trial is uncertain. Paxton has the support of most Republicans in the Texas Senate, but he will need at least 19 votes to avoid being removed from office. If he is removed, he would be the first Texas attorney general to be impeached and removed from office.
Here are some other recent developments in the case:
- On June 20, the Texas Senate passed rules for the impeachment trial. The rules allow Paxton’s wife, Senator Angela Paxton, to attend the trial but not to vote or deliberate with her colleagues.
- On June 22, the FBI raided the home of Nate Paul, a real estate developer who is a key figure in the impeachment case. Paul has been accused of bribing Paxton and using his influence to get favorable treatment from the attorney general’s office.
- On July 1, Paxton filed a lawsuit challenging the impeachment rules. He argues that the rules are unfair and that they violate his right to due process.
The impeachment trial is expected to be closely watched by legal experts and political observers. It will be a test of the power of impeachment in Texas and of Paxton’s ability to maintain his political career.