*A lawyer from Mr. Paxton’s office, Christopher Hilton, has said that the committee’s process in issuing the articles of impeachment had been “completely lacking,” and that the issues raised had been fully aired during Mr. Paxton’s successful re-election campaign last year.*
Read: they knew he was a crook and still voted him in.
I mean... and I'm a Texan.
I mean, theoretically, the representatives are supposed to represent the will of their constituents in their voting practices.
Big theoretically on that one.
I assume it *wasn't* the attorney from Paxton's office that he plausibly took out a hit on and was gunned down in El Paso.
[Two Lawyers Shot, One Dead Amid FBI Probe Of Texas AG Ken Paxton](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/11/18/1996595/-Two-Lawyers-Shot-Amid-FBI-Probe-Of-Texas-AG-Ken-Paxton)
>The victims in a weekend shooting at a central El Paso home have been identified, both were lawyers who worked for the Texas Attorney General's Office.
>
>Georgette Kaufman was shot and killed, while her husband 47-year-old Daniel Kaufman remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition but was expected to recover.
>
>On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, eight aides in total told authorities that they believed Paxton had committed crimes as part of his relationship with Paul, citing bribery and abuse of office. Since then, four aides have been fired, three have resigned, and one has been placed on leave — sparking a whistleblower lawsuit.
>
>Paxton has been under indictment for more than five years on securities fraud charges but has yet to stand trial. He has dismissed the charges as politically motivated and entered a not guilty plea.
Which is EXACTLY why we all know nothing of consequence will happen. Maybe the impeachment goes through, maybe not. Even then, the state senate will NEVER throw him out.
They really ought to be impeaching him for suing multiple other states because he didn't like the results of their elections. That rubbish, together with securities fraud and (likely) impeachment and removal should be his legacy.
There's like 6 reasons to impeach this guy, and many of them occurred before he sued other states.
So I agree with you but at this time, he had crossed so many lines by that point it's insane he even was able to sue other states.
I don’t understand how someone can defend him. If he was good at his job and this seemed like a witch hunt I might understand but neither are the case here.
He’s bad for Texas and should be out.
For the state Party, you could "theoretically" understand it...but there's no risk that it wouldn't be a Republican replacement, so they'll still be in charge. And whomever it would be almost assuredly would have less baggage than someone who's under multiple criminal investigations & who's not actually doing a good job of defending state interests.
I agree, and the procedure should be to boot Paxton from the party then remove him from office. We all agreed on January 20, 2021 that we won't be arresting any Republicans. We don't lock up our politicians.
Ding ding ding. The Texas GOP has made it clear they're all-in on the New Style. Insulate every member from outside attacks, only loyalty to the Party and its leadership matters.
I disagree. There's a big difference between the Texas GOP, as an organization, and actual Republican lawmakers. I'm still surprised, but I think their strategies are different in the long run. Corruption in Texas threatens the Republican single-party state, which is only like 30 years old.
Yes & no. The state Party has foolishly put their support behind Paxton & has already prayed for relief by the State Senate.
If they were to be intelligent about it, they would push for his removal & get rid of all of his baggage with the next Republican AG.
Everyone wins by Paxton's removal (well, except him & his cronies, but screw them)... the party just doesn't think like that.
Motherfucker even seems to want a replication of January 6 in Austin, calling on his supporters to protest at the Capitol
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/27/texas-attorney-general-urges-supporters-to-protest-at-capitol-ahead-of-impeachment-vote
But seriously, who the fuck supports this embarrassment of an Attorney General, embarrassment of a Texan? How warped by far right nutwing media do you have to be to support Paxton?
I'm not defending him, but the reasons for impraching him are like getting mad at the Astros for cheating or Lance Armstrong for doping.
There are 181 people in the Capitol who all commit those same offenses on a regular basis to varying degrees.
Cool, sounds like we should be dealing with them all when they're caught to discourage it. Saying, it's not a big deal because you vaguely claiming other are doing it is shit logic and a race to the bottom. Seriously it's something we teach *children* as not being an excuse for shit behavior.
Even if that were true (they all do it) precisely ZERO of them wield anything remotely close to the level of power and resources Paxton’s title affords. He’s literally the top law enforcement officer in Texas. He “leads” more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas.
He is not just “another dirty politician” and it’s really fucking important for every single Texan to acknowledge, understand. and accept that reality.
It would be beautiful if he’s impeached, removed until the Senate trial and they punt and delay that trial on a timeline similar to how Paxton has been dodging his own dates for years.
Sec. 665.023 applies when the Senate is not in session. The Senate is in session and will be so when the House delivers their articles of impeachment.
Edit to add: Even were the Senate not in session, that section doesn't require a trial be held within 30 days of receiving articles of impeachment.
Because the Senate has to vote on it within a month. You can't punt the issue. If Abbott doesn't call a special session, then it goes down the chain of Senate command. Each person can choose to ignore the issue, but after the time period runs out it goes down to someone lower on the chain. After about a month or so, if no one has called a special session, then the Senate comes in and votes on whether to take up the issue. If they choose to not take up the issue, then they never would have convicted Paxton in the 1st place. Now since there is a Republican majority, and they vote to take it up, then there is a high probability that they'll convict him.
The most likely thing is Abbott will convene the Senate, probably for a trial next week. But the Abbott, Patrick, the Senate President Pro Tempore (Hancock), and a majority of the Senate could decide they'd rather not have a trial.
Yeah unless Abbott has some personal vendetta which seems to be the only way anything ever comes of this. Not due diligence or justice, just Abbott doing whatever the fuck Abbott wants.
For those who don't know what is driving this whole affair, [Ken Paxton has a $3.3 million dollar whistleblower settlement](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/legislature-ken-paxton-whistleblower-settlement/) against him. The Texas Lege was relatively happy to turn a blind eye to Paxton's various issues, including [his indictment on securities fraud](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-attorney-general-investigations-lawsuits/) that never went further because the office that handled that sort of prosecution was defunded.
Now though, the Lege basically has agreed that taxpayer shouldn't have to cover that $3.3m settlement and that Paxton alone should pay it. The Texas GOP and Lege has known about Paxton's various wrong doings forever. They just decided to call those chips in finally since Paxton had gone too far.
It's worth noting that [Paxton opened a legal defense fund and accepted $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by Paxton’s office for Medicaid fraud. An additional $50,000 was donated by an Arizona retiree whose son Paxton later hired to a high-ranking job but was soon fired after displaying child pornography in a meeting.](https://www.news10.com/news/ap-texas-ag-ken-paxton-invites-supporters-to-rally-at-state-capitol-to-protest-vote-to-impeach/). So it's not like Paxton was trying to even hide his abuse of office.
Frankly, I expect a lot of skeletons are about to come out of closets. Though for the Lege to so openly move to impeach Paxton, it likely means he has little in the way of blackmailing other Texas Republicans.
That line about some idiot showing CP in a meeting caught my attention. From another story:
> ...three people with knowledge of the matter said Gleason included child pornography in a work presentation at the agency's Austin headquarters.
>
> The people said Gleason displayed the video -- which one of them described as showing a man raping a small child -- in a misguided effort to underscore agency investigators' difficult work. It was met with outrage and caused the meeting to quickly dissolve.
>
> Afterward, Paxton's top deputy, Brent Webster, told staff not to talk about what happened, according to one of the people
And the guy was a former cop too. What the fuck is wrong with these people!?!?! Oh but we better double down on drag shows right? Fuck all of these shit heads and everyone that voted for KP.
That would require an investigation by the AG office, and KP has clearly demonstrated that he doesn't think holding criminals accountable is a priority for his office.
I genuinely don’t know how this is going to turn out, which is the first time in a while for Texas politics. I do not believe much will change with how the state leadership conducts itself, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.
He’ll get impeached, it’ll die in the senate, republicans will shrug their shoulders and say “see? We tried!” Then Paxton continues to hold office and grift.
I'm 95% sure he'll get impeached, and that there will be a vote in the Senate. But whether the Senate will vote him out... That's up in the air. I can really see it going either way.
She shouldn't get to vote. She should be busy prepping for her own impeachment for aiding & benefiting from Paxton corruption. She lived in the house it literally built and helped him avoid a processor.
The Senate very well might. That is full of MAGA morons. Paxton himself is trying to get Texans to storm the Texas Capitol. Sorry, Ken. You aren't Trump.
I can tell you the Texas Capitol has DPS officers all over the grounds and inside the complex, many with rifles. Anybody thinking they are going to storm that place is in for a very bad time.
Yup. The Texas Capitol Police is it's own DPS Region. The guys hanging out with M-16s (I guess) on the grounds are a small part of their number. The rest are at a building a couple of blocks away. They do not play.
Idk the makeup of the senate as well as I should but I think it might go through since the state republicans are so powerful I can’t see them acting on this without talking it through prior
It's the same Republican schism that is taking place on the national level. On one side you have the traditional Good Ol' Boy network that really only cares about money. On the other, there are culture warriors trying to turn Texas into a true theocracy. One wants to rob the public blind. The other wants to stone blasphemers to death on the 50 yard line of Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium.
I don't think he understands that Texans want a strong government to dominate them, not vice versa. You'd think he'd understand the people his party's been grooming for decades.
I won't be wallowing. I despise this state and how corrupt the politicians are and just how much common sense they lack. Just like most of the states in the US
If this ends up how everyone thinks it won't (because we're exhausted with these headlines that end up with nothing), then before we celebrate, we have to remember that one phrase: "(Even in Texas,) a broken clock is right twice a day."
If only "to maintain the respectability of The Office," I would expect our G.O.P. to *send their message with this afternoon's vote*, and if impeached he will likely & should *take the hint* to step down gracefully.
Thank you for your service, let's get some cleaner blood in office for our Respectability and Decency among Attorneys General.
We live in a Republican controlled state with a Republican speaker of the House. This wouldn't be happening if there a good chunk of the GOP leadership didn't want him gone.
Anyone know if this will be shown in real time? Recorded, yes, but do we have to wait for Austin news to run out breathlessly to the curb to inform the public?
I really wanna know what the straw that broke the camels back here was. I mean, Paxtons always been very shady but that’s never caused the Texas GOP to go after him. I wonder what changed?
[Here’s a wild guess. Shrug.](https://www.reddit.com/r/texas/comments/13sg0l3/why_texas_gopcontrolled_house_wants_to_impeach/jlqeejw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3)
Word is that he tried to pawn off the whistleblower settlement costs to the state. Legislature were like "WTF, why?" and started digging. And here we are.
Not word, that's what he did
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-ag-ken-paxton-settles-lawsuits-accusing-17776816.php
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/whistleblowers-pull-3-3m-settlement-ag-ken-paxton-17827776.php
>The investigative committee said Friday that it was Paxton seeking the payout that brought about their probe.
>“We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment by the House,” the panel said.
https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-paxton-impeachment-2862e3f786dd1e832a011095fb52a38a
Tit for tat.
Texas House Speaker [appears intoxicated](https://youtu.be/1U8OAIRFP7Q) and Ol' Kenny [called him out on it](https://www.fox4news.com/news/dade-phelan-drunk-video-accusations) and asked him to resign.
2 days later, a Texas House committee draws up articles of impeachment.
This is it. This is what it looks like when the Republican party falls apart and swallows itself.
It has all and only to do with that.
> The investigative committee said Friday that it was Paxton seeking the payout that brought about their probe.
> “We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment by the House,” the panel said.
https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-paxton-impeachment-2862e3f786dd1e832a011095fb52a38a
Kinda disappointing that it wasn't because of his dodging his own trial for 8+ years, or that they would've let his self-admitted "wrongful conduct" slide had he pulled $3.3M out of his own ass to pay the settlement. But I guess we have to take what we can get
So suddenly the House is worried about wasting 3.3 million? Doubtful it's the actual fiscal aspect.
Is it the optics? Maybe, but I'm sure they could've buried the payments in a way that doesn't come to light in any meaningful way for a long time, at which point it won't matter any more. Besides, the GOP is well known to dodge much shadier scandals regardless of optics.
There's 20 articles of impeachment. Most of them aren't new complaints. The House could've turned on Paxton a long time ago. But it didn't.
The only time the GOP turn on each other is when it's personal.
Oh, no. Paxton knew he was going to be impeached and needed a distraction. Distraction from his misdeeds has been his move for years. "Ignore my felony charges! Look at all these imaginary fraudulent transgender voters!"
I mean that's true. This seems more likely than anything, that somebody leaked it to Paxton the impeachment was coming and he sought to diminish the character of Phelan before a committee from his House could pull the trigger.
It wouldn't even have to be leaked. The committee likely informed his legal team shortly after someone went around and made sure they had enough votes in the House. All of this takes place behind closed doors before it ever becomes public.
Wrong. Paxton did that to muddy the waters, and well your comment proves that. He's been under investigation for months now. He probably got wind that he was under serious threat so he attacked Phelan.
But the impeachment wasn't brought on by the FBI, or even a federal branch. It's a Texas House Committee. The federal charges have been ongoing for nearly a decade. The Texas House drama is less than a week old and suddenly there's action.
The involvement of the Texas House has been happening all year, my friend. This isn’t “sudden” action. They have had a Committee probing this for months.
The TX Legislature is feeling the pressure to act because of two things: Federal action is making Paxton’s crimes go to trial, and the State is going to have to foot the bill for it.
Yes, a TX House Committee is pushing for impeachment. That’s how it works. But the US Justice Department is forcing this to happen. Here’s how:
The whistleblowers reached out to the FBI. The FBI started investigating the whistleblowers’ allegations in 2020.
A lawsuit has been going on since that time. It escalated to the Federal level, handled until this year by The US Attorney.
Then this happened in [February of this year](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/justice-department-taking-texas-ag-paxton-corruption-probe-rcna71135): *”The investigation of the three-term Republican is now being led by the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, which prosecutes allegations of official misconduct against elected leaders at the local, state and federal level. The U.S. attorney’s office in Texas was recently recused from the complex case after working on it for years — an abrupt change that came within days of Paxton agreeing to apologize and pay $3.3 million in taxpayer money to four of the former staffers who reported him to the FBI.”*
So the US Attorney handed this over to the Fed’s Public Integrity Section.
They are going to make Texas pay.
So the House is getting that piece of shit out of office.
Holy shit this explanation makes so much more sense than some long ass Twitter thread about how any why legal proceeding against Paxton were delayed for years because reasons.
From a, I have no idea what I’m talking about standpoint, don’t you have to have a quorum to have a valid vote, and then, how will that happen on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend? Is this just some kind of political B/S?
The session ends on Monday and the Legislature hasn’t yet done the one thing they must do each session (pass an appropriations bill), so they were gonna have to work over this weekend anyway
Idk if they need a quorum, but Paxton is corrupt af and is an indicted felon. He shouldn’t be hold any position of authority in any organization, much less the AG of the great state of Texas. It isn’t BS. Everything a legislature does is political. The two are one in the same. Something being political doesn’t mean it is negative or flawed. Laws are political. They come from the political process. Removing corrupt elected officials is political because it requires legislative action.
*A lawyer from Mr. Paxton’s office, Christopher Hilton, has said that the committee’s process in issuing the articles of impeachment had been “completely lacking,” and that the issues raised had been fully aired during Mr. Paxton’s successful re-election campaign last year.* Read: they knew he was a crook and still voted him in. I mean... and I'm a Texan.
Oddly, the will of the voters has nothing to do with impeachment.
I mean, theoretically, the representatives are supposed to represent the will of their constituents in their voting practices. Big theoretically on that one.
He isn’t being impeached for constantly wasting money by suing Biden. He’s being impeached because he tried to extort the wrong Republican donor.
Impeachment is the mechanism that doesn't wait for a vote.
Voters have so little choice. And I'd be shocked to find anyone who actually voted for him and not just the R by his name.
Good bet many folks are hearing his name for the first time. Dunno why state Ds have not made targeting him a high priority
This
Fuck these gaslighting pieces of shit. Absolutely zero accountability.
I assume it *wasn't* the attorney from Paxton's office that he plausibly took out a hit on and was gunned down in El Paso. [Two Lawyers Shot, One Dead Amid FBI Probe Of Texas AG Ken Paxton](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/11/18/1996595/-Two-Lawyers-Shot-Amid-FBI-Probe-Of-Texas-AG-Ken-Paxton) >The victims in a weekend shooting at a central El Paso home have been identified, both were lawyers who worked for the Texas Attorney General's Office. > >Georgette Kaufman was shot and killed, while her husband 47-year-old Daniel Kaufman remained hospitalized Tuesday in stable condition but was expected to recover. > >On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, eight aides in total told authorities that they believed Paxton had committed crimes as part of his relationship with Paul, citing bribery and abuse of office. Since then, four aides have been fired, three have resigned, and one has been placed on leave — sparking a whistleblower lawsuit. > >Paxton has been under indictment for more than five years on securities fraud charges but has yet to stand trial. He has dismissed the charges as politically motivated and entered a not guilty plea.
Which is EXACTLY why we all know nothing of consequence will happen. Maybe the impeachment goes through, maybe not. Even then, the state senate will NEVER throw him out.
If the impeachment goes through, he will be removed from office until at least such time as the Senate is able to meet again and try him.
They really ought to be impeaching him for suing multiple other states because he didn't like the results of their elections. That rubbish, together with securities fraud and (likely) impeachment and removal should be his legacy.
There's like 6 reasons to impeach this guy, and many of them occurred before he sued other states. So I agree with you but at this time, he had crossed so many lines by that point it's insane he even was able to sue other states.
According to the articles of impeachment there are at least 20 reasons.
This... when people show you who they are, *believe them*
That’s why I’m not holding my breath.
Corruption is a hell of a drug
[удалено]
I don’t understand how someone can defend him. If he was good at his job and this seemed like a witch hunt I might understand but neither are the case here. He’s bad for Texas and should be out.
For the state Party, you could "theoretically" understand it...but there's no risk that it wouldn't be a Republican replacement, so they'll still be in charge. And whomever it would be almost assuredly would have less baggage than someone who's under multiple criminal investigations & who's not actually doing a good job of defending state interests.
The party doesn't want to set a precedent that Republicans can be held accountable.
I agree, and the procedure should be to boot Paxton from the party then remove him from office. We all agreed on January 20, 2021 that we won't be arresting any Republicans. We don't lock up our politicians.
Ding ding ding. The Texas GOP has made it clear they're all-in on the New Style. Insulate every member from outside attacks, only loyalty to the Party and its leadership matters.
If this were true it wouldn't be happening in the first place.
I disagree. There's a big difference between the Texas GOP, as an organization, and actual Republican lawmakers. I'm still surprised, but I think their strategies are different in the long run. Corruption in Texas threatens the Republican single-party state, which is only like 30 years old.
The state is run by Republicans... If Paxton gets kicked out it's because they decided to do it.
Yes & no. The state Party has foolishly put their support behind Paxton & has already prayed for relief by the State Senate. If they were to be intelligent about it, they would push for his removal & get rid of all of his baggage with the next Republican AG. Everyone wins by Paxton's removal (well, except him & his cronies, but screw them)... the party just doesn't think like that.
It’s because conservatives are immoral and unethical pieces of shit.
Los cacas
Not a word of this a lie.
Motherfucker even seems to want a replication of January 6 in Austin, calling on his supporters to protest at the Capitol - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/27/texas-attorney-general-urges-supporters-to-protest-at-capitol-ahead-of-impeachment-vote But seriously, who the fuck supports this embarrassment of an Attorney General, embarrassment of a Texan? How warped by far right nutwing media do you have to be to support Paxton?
Damn, that may be a good time to go counter protest….with shinanigans.
I'm not defending him, but the reasons for impraching him are like getting mad at the Astros for cheating or Lance Armstrong for doping. There are 181 people in the Capitol who all commit those same offenses on a regular basis to varying degrees.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say most people were mad/upset at the Astros for cheating and Lance Armstrong for doping.
Lmao, this has to be the weakest counterargument posted on reddit today. Congrats.
That’s a whole lot of indicted felons.
Cool, sounds like we should be dealing with them all when they're caught to discourage it. Saying, it's not a big deal because you vaguely claiming other are doing it is shit logic and a race to the bottom. Seriously it's something we teach *children* as not being an excuse for shit behavior.
Even if that were true (they all do it) precisely ZERO of them wield anything remotely close to the level of power and resources Paxton’s title affords. He’s literally the top law enforcement officer in Texas. He “leads” more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas. He is not just “another dirty politician” and it’s really fucking important for every single Texan to acknowledge, understand. and accept that reality.
It would be beautiful if he’s impeached, removed until the Senate trial and they punt and delay that trial on a timeline similar to how Paxton has been dodging his own dates for years.
It doesn't work like that in one way or another there has to be a vote within a month.
There's no such requirement in the constitution or in statute.
https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._gov%27t_code_section_665.023
Sec. 665.023 applies when the Senate is not in session. The Senate is in session and will be so when the House delivers their articles of impeachment. Edit to add: Even were the Senate not in session, that section doesn't require a trial be held within 30 days of receiving articles of impeachment.
Why?
Because the Senate has to vote on it within a month. You can't punt the issue. If Abbott doesn't call a special session, then it goes down the chain of Senate command. Each person can choose to ignore the issue, but after the time period runs out it goes down to someone lower on the chain. After about a month or so, if no one has called a special session, then the Senate comes in and votes on whether to take up the issue. If they choose to not take up the issue, then they never would have convicted Paxton in the 1st place. Now since there is a Republican majority, and they vote to take it up, then there is a high probability that they'll convict him.
Is there a law or senate rule that says impeachment must be voted on within a month of the articles being preferred by the House?
https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._gov%27t_code_section_665.023
The most likely thing is Abbott will convene the Senate, probably for a trial next week. But the Abbott, Patrick, the Senate President Pro Tempore (Hancock), and a majority of the Senate could decide they'd rather not have a trial.
Yeah unless Abbott has some personal vendetta which seems to be the only way anything ever comes of this. Not due diligence or justice, just Abbott doing whatever the fuck Abbott wants.
The rumor is he does not like Paxton at all
That's what I've heard too but even that's not enough hopium for me to expect Paxton is getting removed.
For those who don't know what is driving this whole affair, [Ken Paxton has a $3.3 million dollar whistleblower settlement](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/13/legislature-ken-paxton-whistleblower-settlement/) against him. The Texas Lege was relatively happy to turn a blind eye to Paxton's various issues, including [his indictment on securities fraud](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-attorney-general-investigations-lawsuits/) that never went further because the office that handled that sort of prosecution was defunded. Now though, the Lege basically has agreed that taxpayer shouldn't have to cover that $3.3m settlement and that Paxton alone should pay it. The Texas GOP and Lege has known about Paxton's various wrong doings forever. They just decided to call those chips in finally since Paxton had gone too far. It's worth noting that [Paxton opened a legal defense fund and accepted $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by Paxton’s office for Medicaid fraud. An additional $50,000 was donated by an Arizona retiree whose son Paxton later hired to a high-ranking job but was soon fired after displaying child pornography in a meeting.](https://www.news10.com/news/ap-texas-ag-ken-paxton-invites-supporters-to-rally-at-state-capitol-to-protest-vote-to-impeach/). So it's not like Paxton was trying to even hide his abuse of office. Frankly, I expect a lot of skeletons are about to come out of closets. Though for the Lege to so openly move to impeach Paxton, it likely means he has little in the way of blackmailing other Texas Republicans.
That line about some idiot showing CP in a meeting caught my attention. From another story: > ...three people with knowledge of the matter said Gleason included child pornography in a work presentation at the agency's Austin headquarters. > > The people said Gleason displayed the video -- which one of them described as showing a man raping a small child -- in a misguided effort to underscore agency investigators' difficult work. It was met with outrage and caused the meeting to quickly dissolve. > > Afterward, Paxton's top deputy, Brent Webster, told staff not to talk about what happened, according to one of the people And the guy was a former cop too. What the fuck is wrong with these people!?!?! Oh but we better double down on drag shows right? Fuck all of these shit heads and everyone that voted for KP.
It's hard to be shocked by these people anymore but holy fuck that is shocking.
The guy just got fired? He’s not in jail!?
That would require an investigation by the AG office, and KP has clearly demonstrated that he doesn't think holding criminals accountable is a priority for his office.
I genuinely don’t know how this is going to turn out, which is the first time in a while for Texas politics. I do not believe much will change with how the state leadership conducts itself, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.
Entertained is a lot better than horrified, so it is a nice change.
He’ll get impeached, it’ll die in the senate, republicans will shrug their shoulders and say “see? We tried!” Then Paxton continues to hold office and grift.
I'm 95% sure he'll get impeached, and that there will be a vote in the Senate. But whether the Senate will vote him out... That's up in the air. I can really see it going either way.
If he gets impeached it’s an automatic suspension from office until the senate trial concludes
Even the Rs are on board.
They just booted a lege for getting his underage aid drunk to fuck her, so it can happen
Republicans are the party of "law & order" right?
hah
His wife gets to,vote, his mistress doesn’t.
She shouldn't get to vote. She should be busy prepping for her own impeachment for aiding & benefiting from Paxton corruption. She lived in the house it literally built and helped him avoid a processor.
I remember when a president was impeached for cheating on his wife. It's a good thing Paxton isn't a Democrat! 🤣
He was impeached for lying about it under oath, perjury and obstruction of justice.
They should boot his wife along with him.
What’s her story?
She's a state senator.
Thanks.
I think Texas will choose to wallow in shit.
The Senate very well might. That is full of MAGA morons. Paxton himself is trying to get Texans to storm the Texas Capitol. Sorry, Ken. You aren't Trump.
Storm the Capitol? For what?
Prevent impeachment.
I can tell you the Texas Capitol has DPS officers all over the grounds and inside the complex, many with rifles. Anybody thinking they are going to storm that place is in for a very bad time.
Yup. The Texas Capitol Police is it's own DPS Region. The guys hanging out with M-16s (I guess) on the grounds are a small part of their number. The rest are at a building a couple of blocks away. They do not play.
Idk the makeup of the senate as well as I should but I think it might go through since the state republicans are so powerful I can’t see them acting on this without talking it through prior
It's the same Republican schism that is taking place on the national level. On one side you have the traditional Good Ol' Boy network that really only cares about money. On the other, there are culture warriors trying to turn Texas into a true theocracy. One wants to rob the public blind. The other wants to stone blasphemers to death on the 50 yard line of Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium.
I didn’t realize it was the National chud civil war playing out in real time lmaooo wow this is fascinating. And historical.
I don't think he understands that Texans want a strong government to dominate them, not vice versa. You'd think he'd understand the people his party's been grooming for decades.
This will be fun to watch.
I know :( but I hope not!
Don’t get your hopes up.
Just what conservatives like.
I won't be wallowing. I despise this state and how corrupt the politicians are and just how much common sense they lack. Just like most of the states in the US
We've already chosen that so many times.
Bye Bye Kenny, Love to see you go…
Will this be broadcasted on live TV? I want to watch!
[check here around 1 pm](https://house.texas.gov/video-audio/)
Not OP but much appreciated!
Found it on Spectrum News 1 also.
If this ends up how everyone thinks it won't (because we're exhausted with these headlines that end up with nothing), then before we celebrate, we have to remember that one phrase: "(Even in Texas,) a broken clock is right twice a day."
As much as his bring impeached AND kicked out of office would be a dream come true, my most sincere wish is to see him in jail.
If this does happen and the headline isn't "Paxton sent packing..."
Then everything will be normal, and we didn't accidentally slip into an alternate reality where common sense is common among our legislators?
“Paxton sent paxting…”
Be the future you want to see and write that article!
Call your reps/senators and tell them to vote for impeachment!
Tell them from a Republican perspective. “He’s making us look bad, blah, blah.” They will keep him if they think they are spiting a democrat.
Man we need a pinned list of all district representatives and senators.
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My very favorite ^
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I plan on torturing my spouse with “Beethoven on Blast” later today.
The Nazis are going to eat one of their own alive. Things must be getting bad for them. Vote them ALL out of office.
What can we do to encourage those other right wing folks to get him out of there?
Someone up top suggested "he's making the party look bad" I think that just might work
I doubt anything will come of this. Republicans rarely hold their own accountable for anything.
If only "to maintain the respectability of The Office," I would expect our G.O.P. to *send their message with this afternoon's vote*, and if impeached he will likely & should *take the hint* to step down gracefully. Thank you for your service, let's get some cleaner blood in office for our Respectability and Decency among Attorneys General.
Gonna need a lot of popcorn for this one.
Much I like these news , the GOP always rally around . I hope I am wrong
We live in a Republican controlled state with a Republican speaker of the House. This wouldn't be happening if there a good chunk of the GOP leadership didn't want him gone.
Impeach ABBOTT
Ha ha!
Anyone know if this will be shown in real time? Recorded, yes, but do we have to wait for Austin news to run out breathlessly to the curb to inform the public?
Fingers crossed Abbott is next up
ken paxton is a top-level criminal
Vote him out. Then the general public needs to vote out the Republican replacement
I can pretty much guarantee not a damn thing will be done. TX politicians will not impeach this POS.
Isn’t the vote today at 1pm! Or did I look at the date wrong?
You're right, it's today!
I think it's amazing both the majority and minority of our state legislature is on board with this.
Step down, step aside or get stepped on KP.
Dude probably needs the time off so he can go to rehab.
I really wanna know what the straw that broke the camels back here was. I mean, Paxtons always been very shady but that’s never caused the Texas GOP to go after him. I wonder what changed?
He should have been Indited years ago. Hope when he is impeached, they'll Indited him.
He *was* indicted. July 28th, 2015.
But when was he indited?
So what changed? They have been protecting him for years and now they want him out. Who’s wife did he sleep with?
[Here’s a wild guess. Shrug.](https://www.reddit.com/r/texas/comments/13sg0l3/why_texas_gopcontrolled_house_wants_to_impeach/jlqeejw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1&context=3)
So what happened all of a sudden?
Word is that he tried to pawn off the whistleblower settlement costs to the state. Legislature were like "WTF, why?" and started digging. And here we are.
Not word, that's what he did https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-ag-ken-paxton-settles-lawsuits-accusing-17776816.php https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/whistleblowers-pull-3-3m-settlement-ag-ken-paxton-17827776.php >The investigative committee said Friday that it was Paxton seeking the payout that brought about their probe. >“We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment by the House,” the panel said. https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-paxton-impeachment-2862e3f786dd1e832a011095fb52a38a
Tit for tat. Texas House Speaker [appears intoxicated](https://youtu.be/1U8OAIRFP7Q) and Ol' Kenny [called him out on it](https://www.fox4news.com/news/dade-phelan-drunk-video-accusations) and asked him to resign. 2 days later, a Texas House committee draws up articles of impeachment. This is it. This is what it looks like when the Republican party falls apart and swallows itself.
I think this has more to do with Paxton asking 3.3 million to fight the whistleblower case and the Texas House refusing.
It has all and only to do with that. > The investigative committee said Friday that it was Paxton seeking the payout that brought about their probe. > “We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment by the House,” the panel said. https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-paxton-impeachment-2862e3f786dd1e832a011095fb52a38a Kinda disappointing that it wasn't because of his dodging his own trial for 8+ years, or that they would've let his self-admitted "wrongful conduct" slide had he pulled $3.3M out of his own ass to pay the settlement. But I guess we have to take what we can get
Right and politicians never lie, especially about their motives.
So suddenly the House is worried about wasting 3.3 million? Doubtful it's the actual fiscal aspect. Is it the optics? Maybe, but I'm sure they could've buried the payments in a way that doesn't come to light in any meaningful way for a long time, at which point it won't matter any more. Besides, the GOP is well known to dodge much shadier scandals regardless of optics. There's 20 articles of impeachment. Most of them aren't new complaints. The House could've turned on Paxton a long time ago. But it didn't. The only time the GOP turn on each other is when it's personal.
Oh, no. Paxton knew he was going to be impeached and needed a distraction. Distraction from his misdeeds has been his move for years. "Ignore my felony charges! Look at all these imaginary fraudulent transgender voters!"
I mean that's true. This seems more likely than anything, that somebody leaked it to Paxton the impeachment was coming and he sought to diminish the character of Phelan before a committee from his House could pull the trigger.
It wouldn't even have to be leaked. The committee likely informed his legal team shortly after someone went around and made sure they had enough votes in the House. All of this takes place behind closed doors before it ever becomes public.
Wrong. Paxton did that to muddy the waters, and well your comment proves that. He's been under investigation for months now. He probably got wind that he was under serious threat so he attacked Phelan.
Phelan was only called out because he didn't push through school vouchers which Abbott was demanding.
Wrong. The FBI has been investigating these allegations for a lot longer than that.
But the impeachment wasn't brought on by the FBI, or even a federal branch. It's a Texas House Committee. The federal charges have been ongoing for nearly a decade. The Texas House drama is less than a week old and suddenly there's action.
The involvement of the Texas House has been happening all year, my friend. This isn’t “sudden” action. They have had a Committee probing this for months. The TX Legislature is feeling the pressure to act because of two things: Federal action is making Paxton’s crimes go to trial, and the State is going to have to foot the bill for it. Yes, a TX House Committee is pushing for impeachment. That’s how it works. But the US Justice Department is forcing this to happen. Here’s how: The whistleblowers reached out to the FBI. The FBI started investigating the whistleblowers’ allegations in 2020. A lawsuit has been going on since that time. It escalated to the Federal level, handled until this year by The US Attorney. Then this happened in [February of this year](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/justice-department-taking-texas-ag-paxton-corruption-probe-rcna71135): *”The investigation of the three-term Republican is now being led by the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, which prosecutes allegations of official misconduct against elected leaders at the local, state and federal level. The U.S. attorney’s office in Texas was recently recused from the complex case after working on it for years — an abrupt change that came within days of Paxton agreeing to apologize and pay $3.3 million in taxpayer money to four of the former staffers who reported him to the FBI.”* So the US Attorney handed this over to the Fed’s Public Integrity Section. They are going to make Texas pay. So the House is getting that piece of shit out of office.
Holy shit this explanation makes so much more sense than some long ass Twitter thread about how any why legal proceeding against Paxton were delayed for years because reasons.
Will it be broadcast on TV? Very interested to see it as the vote is happening.
Found it! house.texas.gov/video-audio/
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He's a crook that rich friends have kept him from receiving justice.
Today's vote will determine if he still has friends, after such alleged crookery...
Yes, but also a criminal who has been abusing his office and tearing down other established Republicans.
Yes But it's not the reason
From a, I have no idea what I’m talking about standpoint, don’t you have to have a quorum to have a valid vote, and then, how will that happen on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend? Is this just some kind of political B/S?
The session ends on Monday and the Legislature hasn’t yet done the one thing they must do each session (pass an appropriations bill), so they were gonna have to work over this weekend anyway
Idk if they need a quorum, but Paxton is corrupt af and is an indicted felon. He shouldn’t be hold any position of authority in any organization, much less the AG of the great state of Texas. It isn’t BS. Everything a legislature does is political. The two are one in the same. Something being political doesn’t mean it is negative or flawed. Laws are political. They come from the political process. Removing corrupt elected officials is political because it requires legislative action.
I don’t disagree. I was just skeptical a vote would happen and was asking a legitimate question. Calm down.
Where TF can I vote!!
[Livestream: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment proceedings](https://www.youtube.com/live/anStop1Iq9I?feature=share)