(RightWing.org) – The Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach Attorney General Warren “Ken” Paxton on May 27. The nine-page resolution contained 20 articles of impeachment on various accusations, including obstruction of justice, disregarding official duty, dereliction of duty, and bribery. Paxton’s Senate trial began on September 5, amid rumors his mistress, Laura Olson, would testify against him along with law-enforcement-officials-turned informants/whistleblowers and former Paxton staff members. However, as it turned out, Olson didn’t take the witness stand.
Two sources with insider information told The Dallas Morning News that Olson planned to invoke the Fifth Amendment to protect herself from self-incrimination if Senate prosecutors forced her to testify about the alleged affair. In a surprise move, Paxton’s defense team convinced the other side not to call her to the witness stand, reportedly to spare his wife embarrassment.
Angela Paxton has represented District 8 in the Texas Senate for four years. In late June, her fellow senators voted to bar her from participating in the closed-door deliberations or voting during the impeachment trial. However, she decided to sit on the chamber’s impeachment court in a show of support for her husband.
Paxton was suspended from office after the House impeachment vote under rules set by the Texas Constitution. Permanent removal and a ban on holding an elective office in the state require a vote to convict by two-thirds of the state’s senators.
The Senate prosecutors and Paxton’s defense team rested their respective cases on September 13. It remains unclear whether the Republican-led Senate will vote to oust him.
The House voted by an overwhelming 121 votes to only 23 to pass the resolution impeaching him. GOP lawmakers hold a majority in the lower chamber of 83 to 67. Republicans control 18 of 31 seats in the Senate. Since Paxton’s wife sat on the court but can’t vote, convicting the attorney general still takes 21 votes.
Today marks another milestone in Ken Paxton’s career of fighting the Austin Swamp and Establishment. Ken will survive and will continue to combat the Swamp in Texas to put America First.
I’m looking forward to the upcoming 2024 primary season. RINO hunting season starts soon!!!
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 5, 2023
Leading Republicans like former President Donald Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attempted to dissuade Texas GOP representatives from impeaching Paxton to no avail. Likewise, Donald Trump Jr. posted a statement on X/Twitter offering support to the embattled attorney general and predicting his acquittal. In a thinly veiled threat, he wrote that he looked forward to the start of RINO hunting season.
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