TX AG’s wife may help decide his fate on 20 impeachment articles — including bribery tied to an alleged affair

26 May 2023

Despite all his legal woes, far-right State Attorney General Ken Paxton has been a resilient figure in Texas politics. Paxton was indicated on criminal fraud charges in 2015 (the case still hasn't gone to trial) and has been investigated by the FBI, yet he was elected to a third term in 2022.

But Paxton's luck may be running out now that he is facing impeachment in the Texas State Legislature. And his own wife, State Sen. Angela Paxton, may be among the fellow Republicans who helps decide his fate.

The GOP-controlled Texas House of Representatives has passed 20 articles of impeachment against him. Paxton, the Associated Press notes, "is accused of impeachable offenses, including bribery tied to helping a woman with whom he allegedly had an affair get a job through Austin real estate investor Nate Paul."

If enough members of the Texas State Senate agree that the allegations against him are correct, AG Paxton could be removed from his position.

Whether or not State Sen. Paxton votes on his impeachment remains to be seen.

Cal Jillson, who teaches at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, told AP, "The first option would be for her to recuse herself. The second would be for the Senate to make that judgment on whether they believe going forward with a sitting senator being a spouse of a person on trial is a look you would like to have."

The impeachment underscores the considerable tensions between AG Paxton and members of his own party, including conservative Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. On May 23, Phelan announced that the Texas House General Investigating Committee had spent months investigating AG Paxton for "alleged illegal conduct."

The Texas AG has been railing against both Democrats and fellow Republicans, accusing the latter of being RINOs (Republicans In Name Only).

AP notes, "Five of the articles (of impeachment) deal with ways that Paxton disregarded his official duty to help Paul, including by intervening in a civil suit against Paul, issuing legal opinions favorable to him and using office resources to counter-investigate the federal authorities and Paul's business adversaries. The FBI had been looking into Paul's business dealings, and Paul had insisted they acted improperly in their investigation of him and violated his civil rights. He's argued as much in an ongoing lawsuit."

Read the Associated Press' full report at this link (subscription required).

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