The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
After legislators passed laws banning diversity initiatives and targeting tenure at state universities, more than a quarter of the 1,900 Texas professors surveyed by faculty associations said they plan to look for positions out of state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/68d45a3bf6bf8cba03b19824375640d2/UNT%20Free%20Speech%20Protest%20EL%20TT%2017.jpg)
Former attorney general officials testified that Ken Paxton pushed to release confidential FBI records to friend and donor Nate Paul. They also denied defense attorneys’ assertions that they staged a “mutiny.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9c9ee688b6cf08b4961ba1d95f1eeb93/0907%20Impeach%20Trial%20Day%203%20BD%20TT%2045.jpg)
The senator from West Virginia — who’s at the center of so much 2024 speculation — joins us Sept. 23 for the big finish of our annual ideas conference. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ae41966b957709718b5c47975428759e/NuTTF23ClosingSessionTSquared.jpg)
Jeff Mateer testified that Paxton was so intent on helping Austin real estate investor Nate Paul that he worried the attorney general was being blackmailed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc88a7fa2e6c1cc9320e0fcb06b6b53d/0906%20Impeach%20Trial%20Day%202%20BD%20TT%2005.jpg)
On the second day of the impeachment trial, former officials in the attorney general’s office say Ken Paxton’s relationship with real estate investor Nate Paul raised alarms. Defense attorney accused the witnesses of “staging a coup.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b993f97d2fc8be43235305798e94ab93/0906%20Impeach%20Trial%20Day%202%20EH%20TT%2041.jpg)
Texans came to the Capitol to witness Tuesday’s proceedings in which the Senate rejected motions to dismiss suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment charges. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4ca402f271b777c53736ccaefe0a867/0905%20Paxton%20Trial%20Roam%20EH%20TT%2011.jpg)
Targeted by local conservative activists, Mark Gonzalez joined an increasingly crowded 2024 primary — a move that triggered his resignation as district attorney. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/072a3588689331f5b3056cc0c0a5629d/TTF17%20Criminal%20Justice%20-%20Gonzalez%20TT%2013.jpg)
After senators rejected the suspended attorney general’s bid to dismiss all accusations against him, lawyers for both sides laid out their cases and impeachment managers called their first witness. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5a2f52a94abdecb6dc7b7d54b12e1e75/0905%20Impeach%20Trial%20Day%201%20BD%2010.JPG)
The suspended attorney general argued that he should have the same protection from testifying as any defendant in a criminal trial. Patrick, acting as trial judge, agreed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/42b2f653cac544c1d639c3f8d36c7b30/0905%20Floor%20POOL%20JF%20DMN%2029.jpeg)
The pretrial motions required a majority vote. All but one were rejected by two-thirds of the Senate, suggesting an openness in the chamber to hear the allegations against Paxton. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1ab6180099e74c6533ee26628f7b2cb5/0905%20Impeachment%20Trial%20BD%20TT%2005.jpg)
On the first day of the impeachment trial, senators rejected defense attorneys’ attempts to dismiss all 16 articles of impeachment. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also ruled that Ken Paxton couldn’t be forced to testify. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cbc3e40a295fbf4388741eb2f030b838/0905%20Floor%20POOL%20JF%20DMN%2011.jpeg)
Records obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune give deeper insight into how Paxton’s representation denials often pushed agencies to look for outside legal counsel that was ultimately funded by taxpayers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c2f7835f21059cb46e7907a0653d22e1/Paxton%20Opioid%20Presser%20SF%2001.jpg)
Will the suspended attorney general testify, and will any — or all — articles of impeachment be dismissed before opening arguments? Answers are finally coming. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c2854a1120178052e75ba4bd9725532d/0831%20Senate%20Gallery%20BD%2086.jpg)
The impeachment trial that starts Tuesday is expected to center on Paxton’s infidelity, and could air out the sordid details of the staunch, Christian conservative’s life as he sits just yards away from his wife, and her 30 Senate colleagues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9536c14a3fe289bcfc70cfe5f7f62de/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20BD%2038.jpg)
Under rules previously adopted by the Texas Senate, the trial will feature crucial votes on dismissing articles of impeachment as well as testimony under oath, private deliberations by senator-jurors and votes conducted without debate or discussion. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/295a3528e3c4b2ccc5c9900722d07d3c/0831%20Senate%20Gallery%20BD%20TT%2006.jpg)
Paxton named House Speaker Dade Phelan, a fellow Republican, in his brief remarks Saturday in North Texas. The suspended attorney general faces a trial Tuesday that would remove him from office permanently. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35521d2b7254054c849689c6108ebb54/0902%20Labor%20Day%20Paxton%20AS%20TT%2015.jpeg)
The articles — including bribery, dereliction of duty and disregard of official duty — do not include four accusations originally adopted by the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/68b6696ea69a36bb8f90b7cfaf53e04b/Ken%20Paxton%20File%20MF%20TT%2006.jpg)
The senior senator from Texas has the ambition to become the Senate’s top Republican, but he remains loyal to McConnell, who has downplayed concerns about his well-being. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6a1f82eda1cb80e607516e7817e3e6e4/0831%20McConnell%20Cornyn.JPG)
Even in conservative corners of Texas, efforts to crack down on abortion travel are meeting resistance with some local officials who support Texas’s strict abortion laws, expressing concern that the efforts go too far. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34aec4d47930f8efb1a3f05be0e66e75/Llano%20City%20File%20SF%20TT%2005.jpg)
Only 28% of Republican respondents agreed that the charges against Texas’ attorney general were warranted, compared to 42% of independents and three-quarters of Democrats, the poll found. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/22d057d9ed331a2db6a1c9f991236b84/Paxton%20SATX%20KGB%20TT%20redo%2009.jpg)