Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton “handed over the keys” to his office to a wealthy donor and friend as part of a bribery scheme, prosecutors argued as the top attorney’s impeachment hearing got underway Tuesday.
Paxton, 60, pleaded not guilty to 16 articles of impeachment shortly before opening statements in the Lone Star State Senate in a case that accuses him of breaking the law to help wealthy Austin donor and real estate developer Nate Paul.
“Mr. Paxton handed over the keys to the attorney general’s office to Nate Paul so that Mr. Paul could use his position and the power of a public law firm to punish and harass perceived enemies,” said Republican State Representative Andrew Murr — who is prosecuting the case.
Murr called on 31 state senators — who will serve as a jury in the case — to remove the three-term AG from the position he’s held since 2015, saying Paxton’s alleged scheme hurt “innocent Texans.”
The impeachment trial against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton began Tuesday with opening statements.AP
“Mr. Paxton should be removed from office because he failed to protect the state – and instead used the power of his elected office for his own benefit,” Murr said.
The senate panel only needed a two-thirds majority, or 21 senators, to remove Paxton from office on 16 of the 20 articles approved by the House.
His wife Rep. Senator Angela Paxton was barred from voting at the trial, although she was required to attend the proceedings.
“He betrayed his constituents and the sacred public trust that was placed in him,” Murr said. “And in Texas we need more from our public officials than to avoid becoming criminals.”
Meanwhile, in their own fiery opening remarks, attorneys for Paxton said the case was “absolutely nothing” and reminded democracy that it rests in the balance if only 31 senators have the power to overturn the election results of some 31 million voters – who re-elected Paxton despite knowing the charges he faced.
“We’re living on the wet end of democracy right now,” said Paxton attorney Dan Cogdell. “Is it up to the voters or is it up to the politicians to see if he stays in office? Your decision is actually about democracy in this state.”
Paxton’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, said the charges at the impeachment hearing were false and “absolutely nothing.” AP
But Murr tries to preempt this argument when he claims “voters do not and do not know the whole truth.”
Another defense attorney, Tony Buzbee, said voters have all the relevant facts about the allegations laid out in a civil case brought by a former whistleblower aide against Paxton – which catalyzed the investigation against him.
Buzbee also claimed the firing was a politically motivated move that came just days after Paxton asked Senate Speaker Dade Phelan to resign after he allegedly appeared on the house floor drunk.
Texas Representative Andrew Murr, who prosecuted the case, called for Paxton’s impeachment.AP
Buzbee called the investigation into Paxton “rushed,” “secretive,” “poorly planned and not fully supported by the evidence” and said his client was unable to publicly defend himself against various allegations because of the gag order.
“If this misguided effort succeeds … the precedent it will set will harm any elected official in the state of Texas,” Buzbee said.
Paxton – an ally of former President Donald Trump – has been temporarily suspended from office pending the outcome of the trial.
People line up to attend the hearing in the Senate gallery.AP
Paxton is not expected to testify at the trial where he faces charges including abuse of public trust, unfit for office and corruption.
Only three other sitting state officials have been impeached in the state’s 200-year history and it’s been more than a century since a top state official faced impeachment, with Gov. James E. Ferguson being the last in 1917.
The prosecution was sparked after Paxton asked lawmakers to approve $3.3 million in taxpayer funds to settle a lawsuit by four of his former employees who accused him of abusing his position and being fired for speaking out. House lawmakers did not approve Paxton’s request.
Paxton’s wife, State Sen. Angela Paxton, must attend the hearing but cannot vote in it.AP
A group of eight Paxton deputies told the FBI in 2020 the AG hired an outside law firm to look into the FBI’s case against Paul to help prevent Paul’s assets from being seized. The staff allege Paxton pressured them to help Paul in other ways as well.
In exchange, Paul allegedly financed home renovations to Paxton’s multimillion-dollar Austin home and provided employment to Paxton’s mistress, Laura Olson.
The trial is expected to last several weeks and is being held in the Senate gallery.AP
The trial — which is expected to last several weeks — continued Tuesday afternoon with the first witness, Paxton’s former first assistant Jeff Mateer, beginning to testify.
Mateer was one of the whistleblowers who resigned due to fears that his boss was abusing his position.
Mateer testified that he was “concerned” about Paxton’s active involvement in Paul’s case.
“I urged him not to deal with Nate Paul again,” Mateer said, noting that Paxton later promised to “let the professionals in the office handle this.”
The FBI has an open investigation into Paxton and Paul’s relationship.
Paxton was charged separately with securities fraud in 2015. That case remains pending.
Paul, 36, was also indicted in Austin federal court in June for allegedly making false statements to banks to obtain more than $170 million in loans.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
