Impeachment Looms for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton – Editorial Opinion

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was elected last year despite facing multiple scandals, is facing possible impeachment by the Texas House of Representatives over alleged misconduct and breaking the law. This move is unprecedented, as no Legislature has previously impeached an attorney general. The House General Investigating Committee has referred 20 articles of impeachment to the full chamber, including accusations of misapplication of public resources, bribery, and obstruction of justice. If the House approves the articles, Paxton could be removed from office pending the outcome of a trial conducted by the Senate.

Background and Allegations

The committee voted to issue “preservation letters” directing the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Facilities Commission to protect pertinent information related to the case. On Wednesday, during the committee hearing, investigators highlighted allegations pointing to a yearslong pattern of misconduct and questionable actions by Paxton, such as spending $72,000 in staff labor on tasks that benefited a friend and political donor, providing his friend with an internal FBI file related to an investigation, and hiring an outside lawyer for $25,000 to conduct work that primarily benefited his friend.

Paxton also faces criminal charges for securities fraud related to private business deals in 2011, which were brought against him in 2015. Consequently, Paxton’s actions were deemed a years-long pattern of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking that investigators detailed on Wednesday. While many allegations against him were already known, the public airing of them revealed the extensive scope of the committee’s investigation into the state’s top lawyer, a member of the ruling Republican Party.

Opinions and Reaction

Paxton denied the allegations against him and blamed the move towards impeachment proceedings on the “corrupted politicians in the Texas House.” Followers of Paxton, including Stephen Miller, a former advisor to former President Donald Trump, have tweeted in support of the Attorney General, and warned of a “corrupt political establishment” trying to overturn the will of the people.

For Democrats, the calculus is simple. They have cast Paxton as corrupt for years and will likely be unanimous in support of impeachment. Republican lawmakers, however, have to weigh whether to indict a top state official in their own party, one who is popular with conservative voters and survived a primary last year in which opponents tried to tar him with similar allegations of misconduct.

The Texas House will have considerable latitude to decide what counts as an impeachable offense.
Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick have yet to comment on the impeachment of Ken Paxton. House Speaker Dade Phelan has stated that Paxton “appears to have routinely abused his office for personal gain.” During Paxton’s tenure, Republicans have gotten criticism several times for ignoring Paxton’s legal and ethical issues.

Impeachment Process

Only the Texas House can bring impeachment proceedings against state officials, which will lead to a trial by the Senate. According to the Texas Constitution, Paxton would be suspended from office pending the outcome of the Senate trial. The constitution also empowers the Governor to appoint a provisional replacement. To be removed from office, two-thirds of the Senate must support the move, which has only occurred twice in Texas history, to Governor James Ferguson in 1917 and District Judge O.P. Carrillo in 1975.

Editorial

The impeachment of a state attorney general is a rare event that underscores the importance of officials upholding the public trust they are given. Paxton’s repeated accusations of bribery and misuse of public funds make him unfit to continue in his office, and the allegations against him must be taken seriously by the Texas House of Representatives. The legislature is required to go through an impeachment process that balances the evidence on both sides against the constitutional requirements for removing a statewide officer from office. If the allegations against Paxton are true, the necessary action must be taken to ensure the accountability of elected officials and protect the integrity of the public office.

Advice

If you hold public office, you must be prepared to be held accountable. Paxton’s alleged misconduct and abuse of power demonstrate the importance of behaving ethically as a public servant. Leaders must work diligently to earn the trust of those they lead, and maintain that trust by being transparent and adhering to laws that prevent corruption and misconduct. The public office is a privilege that comes with a great responsibility, and if anyone violates that trust, they must be held accountable for the actions and answer to the law.

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