Ken Paxton impeachment fight exposes deep fissures among Texas Republicans
As the 88th Legislative Session came to a close, longstanding divisions between traditional conservatives and party’s far right came into focus. Full Story
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![From left: State Reps. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, Eddie Morales, Jr., D-Eagle Pass, and Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, wait as Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, speaks at the back mike as the impeachment proceedings against Ken Paxton are debated on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
All eyes on Sen. Angela Paxton as Texas Senate takes up her husband’s removal
Ken Paxton helped elect his wife, Angela, to the state Senate. That chamber will now consider whether to remove him from the attorney general’s office. She has not said whether she will recuse herself. Full Story
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![Texas State Senator, Angela Paxton, speaks during a press conference outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
God, money and Dairy Queen: How Texas House investigators secured the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton
The long list of accusations were outlined as part of 20 charges of impeachment adopted by the Texas House. Full Story
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![General Investigating Committee member Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, lays out articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
“I’m here to watch history”: Texans marvel at Paxton impeachment spectacle
The suspended attorney general’s supporters thought lawmakers tried to overrule voters. Ken Paxton’s critics felt accountability was a long time coming. Full Story
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![Wide view of the Texas House chamber during debate on the articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott can pick a fill-in attorney general. He’s so far been silent on impeachment.
Abbott himself is a former attorney general, preceding Paxton in the position. The governor has built deep connections in the conservative legal world and is known to lean on former aides for high-profile appointments. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hosted 12 attorneys general from around the U.S. for a border security briefing at Texas DPS regional headquarters in Weslaco on Jan. 27, 2022.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House. See how each representative voted.
Here’s a list of the representatives who voted for and against impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday. Full Story
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![The electronic voting board in the House chamber on July 19, 2021]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
AG KEN PAXTON IS IMPEACHED
The House voted 121-23 to suspend the attorney general and refer him to the Senate for trial on charges of bribery, abuse of office and obstruction. It was the first such impeachment since 1975. Full Story
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![The Texas House voted to impeach state Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump, Ted Cruz denounce effort to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton
Trump made clear that he will politically target any Texas House Republican who lets the impeachment move forward. Full Story
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![Former president Donald Trump pats Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on the shoulder as he leaves the stage during a rally in Robstown, on Oct. 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Lucas Boland/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via REUTERS -
As attorney general, Paxton’s ideological crusades have drowned out his day job
Child support enforcement, environmental regulation, consumer protection and a host of other responsibilities fall under the attorney general’s realm at what is essentially the state’s largest law firm. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, center right, walks with Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone II, center left, and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, right, to a press conference at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on April 26, 2022. Earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Texas v. Texas, the enforcement of the Trump-era “remain in Mexico” policy that required asylum seekers to stay in Mexico as they waited for hearings in U.S. immigration court. (Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune).]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton defenders compare him to Trump as House hears impeachment charges
The vote to adopt the 20 articles of impeachment was 121-23, with three members absent. Full Story
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![General Investigating Committee head Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, lays out articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump Jr., conservative Republicans ride to Ken Paxton’s defense on eve of impeachment vote
Supporters of the attorney general portray Saturday’s impeachment vote as a political witch hunt meant to sideline President Joe Biden’s biggest headache. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton waves as he walks on stage at a Texas Trump rally at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Oct. 22. 2022, in Robstown.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via REUTERS -
TribCast: Disarray in the Texas GOP
In this week’s episode, we discuss the first impeachment proceedings against a sitting attorney general in Texas history. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton recites the pledge of allegiance at a Trump Rally in Conroe on January 29, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney General Ken Paxton blasts pending impeachment vote, calls for protests
Paxton said House members were showing “contempt for the electoral process” and accused them of sabotaging his work challenging the Biden administration. Full Story
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![At a press conference on May 26, 2023, Attorney General Ken Paxton with aides, from left to right: Tommy Tran, executive assistant; James R. Lloyd, associate deputy attorney general for civil litigation; Austin A. Kinghorn, associate deputy attorney general for legal counsel; Ryan Fisher, director of government relations; Joshua Reno, deputy attorney general for criminal justice; Suzanna Hupp, special adviser; Brent Webster, first assistant attorney general; Lesley French, chief of staff; George Lane, adviser; Paige Willey, deputy communications director; and Ralph M. Molina, deputy attorney general for legal strategy.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott remains silent on potential AG impeachment
A Texas House committee has filed 20 articles of impeachment accusing attorney general of wrongdoing. Republicans’ attempts to remove one of their own sets up a dramatic intraparty showdown in the waning days of the 2023 regular legislative session. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton during TPPF's Policy Orientation in Austin on Feb. 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Effort to impeach Ken Paxton, led by fellow Republicans, sets off political earthquake in Texas
Republicans have chosen to remain largely silent during years of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking by the attorney general. Now they will have to take a public stand. Full Story
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![Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Attorney General Ken Paxton conferring with Gov. Greg Abbott outside the Senate chamber before his swearing in ceremony in Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Here are the 20 articles of impeachment filed against Ken Paxton
The Texas House will vote on accusations that include bribery, dereliction of duty, disregard of official duty and obstruction of justice. Full Story
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![State Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at his primary election results watch party in McKinney on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney General Ken Paxton was impeached. Here’s how that process works in Texas.
Paxton is now suspended until the outcome of a trial in the Senate. Gov. Greg Abbott can now appoint someone to temporarily fill the vacancy. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to his supporters after being sworn into office on January 10, 2023. At left are state Sen. Angela Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
House committee issues 20 articles of impeachment against Ken Paxton
The attorney general, reelected last year by voters who shrugged off his scandals, is accused of a yearslong pattern of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking. The full House is expected to consider the articles soon. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to supporters Paxton Watch Party Barn in Plano after being re-elected on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
“Doctors have lost their voice”: Top trans care doctor leaves Texas as lawmakers pass ban
Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Ximena Lopez started a clinic for trans youth in 2014. But she’s leaving Texas ahead of an expected law that would ban transition-related care for minors. Full Story
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![Demonstrators protest SB14, a bill to eradicate gender transition healthcare for trans kids in Texas, while the bill is heard in the House at the state capitol on May 2, 2023.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton dismissed House investigators as partisan Democrats. Their backgrounds suggest otherwise.
A Texas Tribune review of the investigators’ employment history, voting records and campaign donations found a lack of support for the attorney general’s claim. Full Story
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![State Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune