A Republican-led investigation in the Texas House recommended that state Attorney General Ken Paxton be removed from office.
In a unanimous decision, a Republican-led House Inquiry Committee that spent months quietly investigating Paxton recommended removing the state’s top lawyer. The House could vote on the recommendation as early as Friday. If he impeaches Paxton, he would be forced out of office immediately.
The move prompted what could be a remarkably sudden downfall for one of the GOP’s most prominent legal fighters, who in 2020 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Joe Biden’s victory. Only two officials in Texas’ nearly 200-year history have been impeached.
Paxton, who is facing indictments for securities fraud and is being investigated by the FBI for abusing his office to help a donor, is a Fox News favorite and a staunch Donald supporter. Trump.
Paxton filed an infamous lawsuit to try to have the 2020 election annulled, which the Supreme Court dismissed.
Unlike at the federal level, if the heavily Republican House of Texas votes to impeach Paxton, he must leave office immediately until the end of his trial in the state Senate. In Texas, if Paxton is not found guilty, he can return to work. If convicted by the Senate, he will be removed from office.
Just like Donald Trump, Ken Paxton has escaped the consequences for years, but 2023 could be shaping up to be the year of justice and it could be coming soon for the Texas Attorney General.
Jason is the editor. He is also a member of the White House press pool and a congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in political science. His graduate studies focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association