Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted by the state Senate during his historic impeachment trial on Saturday.
The case went to the state’s top 30 lawmakers Friday to discuss 16 articles of impeachment related to alleged abuse of power heard during a sensational two-week hearing in Austin.
Paxton received strong support from his GOP colleagues in the state Senate.
All but two of the house’s 18 Republicans voted to acquit him of all 16 charges.
“Today, truth prevails,” Paxton he said in a statement after the votewhich he was not present.
“Truth cannot be buried by mud-mouthed politicians or their powerful benefactors. I have said many times: Find the truth! And that is what has been achieved.”
The vote was a sharp rejection of the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature, which voted overwhelmingly to impeach Paxton in May.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been fired and will leave office after a historic vote by the state senate.AP
The case was submitted to the state’s 30 highest legislators Friday to discuss 16 articles of impeachment related to alleged abuse of power.AP
“We found unprecedented abuse in the Texas Attorney General’s office by Mr. Paxton,” GOP Representative Andrew Murr, who served as Paxton’s prosecutor, said during closing arguments on the Senate floor Friday.
The case against Paxton centers on his relationship with real estate developer Nate Paul, a major political donor whom he is accused by members of his office of doing many illegal favors.
Paul is also said to have helped Paxton by giving his mistress a job and keeping the relationship a secret.
The case against Paxton centers on his relationship with real estate developer Nate Paul, a major political donor whom he is accused by members of his office of doing many illegal favors. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The case was submitted to the 30 highest legislators in the state to discuss 16 articles of impeachment related to alleged abuse of power. ZUMAPRESS.com
“We have all sinned and failed,” Paxton’s attorney Tony Buzbee declared of his client, who has been married to his college sweetheart, state Sen. Angela Paxton, since 1986.
Although the senator was ordered to be in court for the hearing, he was not allowed to vote.
“If this impeachment is based on military impropriety, then line up, line up; we’re going to do a lot of layoffs in the city,” Buzbee added.
Paxton’s lover Laura Olson – whose identity was revealed by The Post in May – was supposed to testify during the trial, but despite being called to the stand was mysteriously allowed to skip out from testifying.
Olson, a former political aide to state Sen. Donna Campbell, appeared in person at the state capitol building on Wednesday, however, when prosecutors tried to call him to the witness stand, he was deemed “unprepared to testify.”
The case went to the state’s top 30 lawmakers Friday to discuss 16 articles of impeachment related to alleged abuse of power heard during a sensational two-week hearing in Austin. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who admitted he had previously met Olson and presided as judge at Paxton’s trial, did not give a reason for his absence but added both prosecutors and Paxton’s defense team had agreed with him.
The move meant Olson avoided testifying in front of his wife.
Paxton himself did not attend most of the hearing himself, only showing his face during opening and closing arguments.
Separately, Paxton faces criminal charges in Houston, according to the Texas Tribune. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The Senate needs 21 votes to remove him from office.
The acquittal means he can resume his role as the Lone Star State’s chief prosecutor.
Separately, Paxton faces criminal charges in Houston, according to the Texas Tribune.
The charges stemmed from accusations that he defrauded investors of technology startup Servergy, Inc.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
