Texas House of Representatives impeached Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas, on Saturday with a resounding vote. Attorney General Paxton’s office is suspended immediately while he awaits his trial before the Texas Senate.
In a hearing held on the Texas House floor, over 81 percent voted in favor of impeaching Attorney General Paxton for the 20 articles of impeachment submitted by the House General Investigations Committee. The final vote resulted in 121 yes, 23 no, 2 present but not voting and 3 abstentions.
The discussion, which lasted almost four hours, was mostly about the process some members felt was rushed and didn’t provide due process. The members of the General Investigations Committee presented the facts that they believed support the matter going forward to a Texas Senate trial.
Almost every speaker spoke of the solemnity of the action they were about take.
David Spiller, R-Jacksboro and member of the House General Investigations Committee, said in the House that today was a difficult and grim day for this House as well as for the State of Texas.
The objections to the process were almost exclusively about the procedure and not whether Mr. Paxton is guilty or innocent of allegations made against him by the 20 articles.
John Smithee (R-Amarillo), a representative in the House, said: “This process is unjustifiable.” It concerns me because it could happen to General Paxton today, you tomorrow and me the next.
Mr. Paxton made a tweet shortly after the Texas House voted to impeach him.
According to the Texas Constitution Paxton’s position is immediately terminated and Governor Greg Abbott may now appoint a temporary Attorney General. Breitbart Texas contacted the governor’s offices for a response. A response was not immediately available.
The Republicans hold a majority of 19-12 in the Texas Senate. According to the Texas Constitution, a majority of two-thirds of senators present must convict Paxton and remove him permanently from his position as attorney general. To convict, nine Republican Senators and 12 Democrats would need to be present.
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