The embattled Texas attorney general is facing accusations of misconduct and abuse of power. The Texas state House voted to impeach Paxton in May.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pleaded not guilty to misconduct allegations during the first day of the historic impeachment trial in the state Senate.
The Republican is facing 16 of the 20 articles of impeachment referred by the Texas state House in May, which voted to impeach Paxton on accusations that he abused his status to intervene in an investigation against real estate investor Nate Paul. He’s also accused of attempting to help a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair land a job.
Paxton has previously denounced the allegations against him as being politically motivated. Both chambers of the Texas state House are controlled by the GOP, and articles of impeachment were first recommended by the bipartisan House General Investigating Committee. Paxton, only the third Texas official to face impeachment proceedings in the state’s history, has been suspended without pay since the impeachment vote by the state House in the spring.
In order to be convicted, the Texas Constitution requires that two-thirds majority of the state Senate must agree to impeach the embattled attorney general. Texas Republicans hold a 19-12 majority in the Senate, which means that all Democrats and at least nine GOP lawmakerswould have to vote to impeach Paxton to remove him from office.
