Texas AG Paxton warns Biden administration to 'buckle up' after acquittal at impeachment trial
Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sits between his attorneys Tony Buzbee, front, and Dan Cogdell, rear, as the articles of his impeachment are read during the his impeachment trial in the Texas Senate chamber at the Texas Capitol on Sept. 5 in Austin, Texas. Paxton was acquitted Sept. 16. Photo by Eric Gay/The Associated Press.
After his acquittal at an impeachment trial Saturday, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleged that the “sham” proceeding was coordinated by the Biden administration along with the “liberal” speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Republican Dade Phelan.
Sixteen out of 18 Republicans in the Texas Senate voted to clear Paxton on every charge, Axios reports. The 19th Republican, Angela Paxton, Paxton’s wife and a Texas state senator, did not vote. A two-thirds vote—translating to 21 votes—was needed for a conviction.
Other publications with coverage include Fox News, Law360, the Associated Press, the Hill, the New York Times and the Texas Tribune.
Paxton was accused of misusing his office to benefit a developer accused of providing renovations to Paxton’s home and employing a woman with whom Paxton was having an affair.
A top aide had testified that he wondered whether Paxton was being blackmailed after Paxton hired an outside lawyer to investigate the developer’s enemies. The lawyer Paxton hired said he got cease-and-desist letters from Paxton’s aides and was never paid for his work.
Paxton was also accused of retaliating against whistleblowers in his office.
Paxton attorney Tony Buzbee had argued in his closing that the charges were “baloney,” “bull” and “hogwash.”
Dade called the acquittal “extremely unfortunate” in a statement.
Paxton’s statement accused President Joe Biden of promoting “lawless policies” and said the administration should “buckle up because your lawless policies will not go unchallenged.”
Paxton has participated in several lawsuits against the Biden administration and had filed a suit with the U.S. Supreme Court challenging 2020 election results.
Paxton is not yet out of legal jeopardy. He still faces state securities fraud charges, and he is being investigated by the FBI, according to the Texas Tribune. In the securities fraud case, Paxton is accused of failing to disclose his commission when he solicited investors on behalf of a technology company.
