Texas is holding a historic impeachment trial

This morning, the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) begins. He stands accused of engaging in misconduct since taking office in 2015, including allegations of bribery and abuse of office.

• Paxton is the second statewide elected official in Texas history to face impeachment, with the first occurring in 1917.

🤔 What are the charges?... The Texas AG is accused of using his office to help a political donor with their legal issues, including allegedly ordering state workers to interfere with an FBI investigation into the donor.

In exchange, the donor allegedly paid for renovations to a house Paxton owns, and also gave a job to a woman with whom the AG was allegedly having an affair.

• The GOP-controlled Texas House of Representatives voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton on charges of bribery and abuse of office this past May, citing thousands of emails and text messages in addition to statements from former staffers and local officials.
• Paxton, who’s suspended while facing trial, says the Texas House’s allegations are without merit and lack evidence of any quid pro quo, framing the impeachment proceedings as an illegal effort to overturn the will of Texas voters.

👀 Looking ahead… The Senate impeachment trial is expected to last 2–3 weeks. If Paxton is convicted by a two-thirds majority, he would be removed as AG and potentially banned from holding any future office in Texas (pending a follow-up vote).