Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been IMPEACHED

[HipKat]

 

[HipKat]

GOP-controlled Texas House impeaches Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, triggering suspension

Texas’ Republican-led House of Representatives impeached state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday on articles including bribery and abuse of public trust, a sudden, historic rebuke of a GOP official who rose to be a star of the conservative legal movement despite years of scandal and alleged crimes.

Impeachment triggers Paxton’s immediate suspension from office pending the outcome of a trial in the state Senate and empowers Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to appoint someone else as Texas’ top lawyer in the interim.

The 121-23 vote constitutes an abrupt downfall for one of the GOP’s most prominent legal combatants, who in 2020 asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn President Joe Biden’s electoral defeat of Donald Trump. It makes Paxton only the third sitting official in Texas’ nearly 200-year history to have been impeached.

Paxton, 60, decried the move moments after scores of his fellow partisans voted for impeachment, and his office pointed to internal reports that found no wrongdoing.

“The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just,” Paxton said. “It was a politically motivated sham from the beginning.”

Paxton has been under FBI investigation for years over accusations that he used his office to help a donor and was separately indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, though he has yet to stand trial. His party had long taken a muted stance on the allegations — but that changed this week as 60 of the House’s 85 Republicans, including Speaker Dade Phelan, voted to impeach.

“No one person should be above the law, least not the top law officer of the state of Texas,” Rep. David Spiller, a Republican member of the committee that investigated Paxton, said in opening statements. Another Republican committee member, Rep. Charlie Geren, said without elaborating that Paxton had called some lawmakers before the vote and threatened them with political “consequences.”

Lawmakers allied with Paxton tried to discredit the investigation by noting that hired investigators, not panel members, interviewed witnesses. They also said several of the investigators had voted in Democratic primaries, tainting the impeachment, and that they had too little time to review evidence.

“I perceive it could be political weaponization,” Rep. Tony Tinderholt, one of the House’s most conservative members, said before the vote. Republican Rep. John Smithee compared the proceeding to “a Saturday mob out for an afternoon lynching.”

Paxton is automatically suspended from office pending the Senate trial. Final removal would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate, where Paxton’s wife’s, Angela, is a member.

Representatives of the governor, who lauded Paxton while swearing him in for a third term in January, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on a temporary replacement.

Before the vote Saturday, Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz came to Paxton’s defense, with the senator calling the impeachment process “a travesty” and saying the attorney general’s legal troubles should be left to the courts.

“Free Ken Paxton,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, warning that if House Republicans proceeded with impeachment, “I will fight you.”

In one sense, Paxton’s political peril arrived with dizzying speed: The House committee’s investigation came to light Tuesday, and by Thursday lawmakers issued 20 articles of impeachment.

Rice University political science professor Mark P. Jones said the swift move to impeach kept Paxton from rallying significant support and allowed quietly frustrated Republicans to come together.

“If you ask most Republicans privately, they feel Paxton is an embarrassment. But most were too afraid of the base to oppose him,” Jones said. By voting as a large bloc, he added, the lawmakers got political cover.

To Paxton’s longstanding detractors, however, the rebuke was years overdue.

In 2014, he admitted to violating Texas securities law, and a year later he was indicted on securities fraud charges in his hometown near Dallas, accused of defrauding investors in a tech startup. He pleaded not guilty to two felony counts carrying a potential sentence of five to 99 years.

He opened a legal defense fund and accepted $100,000 from an executive whose company was under investigation by Paxton’s office for Medicaid fraud. An additional $50,000 was donated by an Arizona retiree whose son Paxton later hired to a high-ranking job but was soon fired after displaying child pornography in a meeting. In 2020, Paxton intervened in a Colorado mountain community where a Texas donor and college classmate faced removal from his lakeside home under coronavirus orders.

But what ultimately unleased the impeachment push was Paxton’s relationship with Austin real estate developer Nate Paul.

In 2020, eight top aides told the FBI they were concerned Paxton was misusing his office to help Paul over the developer’s unproven claims that an elaborate conspiracy to steal $200 million of his properties was afoot. The FBI searched Paul’s home in 2019, but he has not been charged and denies wrongdoing. Paxton also told staff members he had an affair with a woman who, it later emerged, worked for Paul.

The impeachment accuses Paxton of attempting to interfere in foreclosure lawsuits and issuing legal opinions to benefit Paul. Its bribery charges allege that Paul employed the woman with whom Paxton had an affair in exchange for legal help and that he paid for expensive renovations to the attorney general’s home. A senior lawyer for Paxton’s office, Chris Hilton, said Friday that the attorney general paid for all repairs and renovations.

Other charges, including lying to investigators, date back to Paxton’s still-pending securities fraud indictment.

Four of the aides who reported Paxton to the FBI later sued under Texas’ whistleblower law, and in February he agreed to settle the case for $3.3 million. The House committee said it was Paxton seeking legislative approval for the payout that sparked their probe.

“But for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment,” the panel said.

[f8ta1ity54]

[Woody]

He'll be alright.  Paxton will be sleeping easy on his MyPillow 2.0 tonight.  

 

[SackMan518]

The walls are still closing in on Trump! Trust us.

[HipKat]

7 hours ago, SackMan518 said:

The walls are still closing in on Trump! Trust us.

Pretty sure this thread is about Paxton. Does everything have to be about Donald Trump with you? Lol

[SackMan518]

1 hour ago, HipKat said:

Pretty sure this thread is about Paxton. Does everything have to be about Donald Trump with you? Lol

Greg, everything is about Trump for you.. even if the city dog catcher is a Trump supporter.

[HipKat]

4 hours ago, SackMan518 said:

Greg, everything is about Trump for you.. even if the city dog catcher is a Trump supporter.

Not everything is about Trump with me, believe it or not, but if you’re gonna put him on a pedestal or constantly try to ignore the shit that he did wrong or pretend that he isn’t guilty of committing crimes or constantly push him as whatever the catchphrase of the day is, best president ever or whatever, then yeah, I’m going to retort that with real facts about Donald Trump, that contradict what you’re saying.

I know plenty of people who are Trump supporters. Friends of mine and we don’t have these conversations because they don’t push him in my face. They know how I feel and I don’t talk shit about him to them. They’re my friends. I don’t need to have that argument with them. It just causes animosity between both sides.

But, maybe because they’re not hiding behind a keyboard, they’re not afraid to admit that he’s probably going to get fucked by the stolen documents thing. And whatever else they can pin on him.

You guys on here are fucking insane with your inability to call him out on anything. You suffer from a complete inability to be objective when it comes to Donald Trump.

And I do also, but I think I have a good reason to. He’s a piece of shit who lies every time he opens his fucking mouth. Who stole documents, lied about the documents, tried to keep them hidden and then brags about it like it was no big deal. He’s an arrogant fucking piece of shit and I hate motherfuckers like that.

And when they start putting together a case in Georgia for trying to get the AG to steal votes for him, he actually fucking did that. We all heard the recordings. I will talk more shit about him then.

Everything he gets accused of, we know he did because he fucking puts it out there for everybody to see. So yes, I’m not objective when it comes to Donald Trump. Neither are you. Neither does Philly. Neither are any of you. And then you wonder why people say it’s a cult.

I mean, look at the argument I’m having with toofast about the word, all. Are you fucking kidding me? That’s the sword he wants to die on?

 

 

[HipKat]

So, Texas was rigged. Got it…

 

[jpp]

Politician gets busted for bribery.....Now a days any politician who doesnt commit some form of bribery likely doesnt climb that "political ladder"......in other words...there all corrupt one way or another...Left-right-up-down-sideways-him-her-pronouns-etc etc etc 

[Thebowflexbody]

2 hours ago, jpp said:

Politician gets busted for bribery.....Now a days any politician who doesnt commit some form of bribery likely doesnt climb that "political ladder"......in other words...there all corrupt one way or another...Left-right-up-down-sideways-him-her-pronouns-etc etc etc 

Maga dittos.  Get it?  LOL

[SackMan518]

On 5/27/2023 at 8:36 PM, HipKat said:

 

Or, the real story.

 

[Philly'sFinest]

On 5/28/2023 at 2:48 PM, HipKat said:

Not everything is about Trump with me, believe it or not, but if you’re gonna put him on a pedestal or constantly try to ignore the shit that he did wrong or pretend that he isn’t guilty of committing crimes or constantly push him as whatever the catchphrase of the day is, best president ever or whatever, then yeah, I’m going to retort that with real facts about Donald Trump, that contradict what you’re saying.

I know plenty of people who are Trump supporters. Friends of mine and we don’t have these conversations because they don’t push him in my face. They know how I feel and I don’t talk shit about him to them. They’re my friends. I don’t need to have that argument with them. It just causes animosity between both sides.

But, maybe because they’re not hiding behind a keyboard, they’re not afraid to admit that he’s probably going to get fucked by the stolen documents thing. And whatever else they can pin on him.

You guys on here are fucking insane with your inability to call him out on anything. You suffer from a complete inability to be objective when it comes to Donald Trump.

And I do also, but I think I have a good reason to. He’s a piece of shit who lies every time he opens his fucking mouth. Who stole documents, lied about the documents, tried to keep them hidden and then brags about it like it was no big deal. He’s an arrogant fucking piece of shit and I hate motherfuckers like that.

And when they start putting together a case in Georgia for trying to get the AG to steal votes for him, he actually fucking did that. We all heard the recordings. I will talk more shit about him then.

Everything he gets accused of, we know he did because he fucking puts it out there for everybody to see. So yes, I’m not objective when it comes to Donald Trump. Neither are you. Neither does Philly. Neither are any of you. And then you wonder why people say it’s a cult.

I mean, look at the argument I’m having with toofast about the word, all. Are you fucking kidding me? That’s the sword he wants to die on?

 

 

You couldn't even help yourself in this post LOL

[HipKat]

On 5/30/2023 at 4:24 PM, jpp said:

Politician gets busted for bribery.....Now a days any politician who doesnt commit some form of bribery likely doesnt climb that "political ladder"......in other words...there all corrupt one way or another...Left-right-up-down-sideways-him-her-pronouns-etc etc etc 

Bribery? He admitted that he blocked 2.5 million votes from being counted. Isn’t that what the Republicans are accusing the Democrats of? The difference is the Republicans have no evidence and this guy fucking admitted it.

[HipKat]

10 hours ago, SackMan518 said:

Or, the real story.

 

Oh yeah, LMAO. Because Kari Lake is fucking credible.

 

[jpp]

1 minute ago, HipKat said:

Bribery? He admitted that he blocked 2.5 million votes from being counted. Isn’t that what the Republicans are accusing the Democrats of? The difference is the Republicans have no evidence and this guy fucking admitted it.

yup there all corrupt....some more than others.....

[HipKat]

10 hours ago, Philly'sFinest said:

You couldn't even help yourself in this post LOL

What exactly was I supposed to help myself about?

[SackMan518]

3 hours ago, HipKat said:

Oh yeah, LMAO. Because Kari Lake is fucking credible.

 

She just reposted the video, she didn't write an article or anything. 10 minutes.

[HipKat]

16 hours ago, SackMan518 said:

She just reposted the video, she didn't write an article or anything. 10 minutes.

 

"They impeached Paxton because he was on to them.  

It’s called election fraud, and if we don’t stand up and fight it right now, we lose our country forever."

So, she didn't write that?

[SackMan518]

2 hours ago, HipKat said:

 

"They impeached Paxton because he was on to them.  

It’s called election fraud, and if we don’t stand up and fight it right now, we lose our country forever."

So, she didn't write that?

That's what he said. You did you hear it? He's 100% true.

[HipKat]

51 minutes ago, SackMan518 said:

That's what he said. You did you hear it? He's 100% true.

SO (admittedly) blocking 2.5 million VALID and LEGAL votes is "He WuZ oN 2 ThEm??"

 

Not to mention 

"They impeached Paxton because he was on to them.  
It’s called election fraud, and if we don’t stand up and fight it right now, we lose our country forever."

are HER words not to mention the MAGA dumb dog whistle "We lose out country forever" that you people repeat more than Bush 2 did "the evil doers"

 

[SackMan518]

3 hours ago, HipKat said:

SO (admittedly) blocking 2.5 million VALID and LEGAL votes is "He WuZ oN 2 ThEm??"

 

Not to mention 

"They impeached Paxton because he was on to them.  
It’s called election fraud, and if we don’t stand up and fight it right now, we lose our country forever."

are HER words not to mention the MAGA dumb dog whistle "We lose out country forever" that you people repeat more than Bush 2 did "the evil doers"

 

I love how you pick the wrong side of everything. Now that's talent! My brain can't take it anymore. Hurr durr... some more on the TDS brain. 

[Philly'sFinest]

On 6/1/2023 at 6:28 PM, HipKat said:

Bribery? He admitted that he blocked 2.5 million votes from being counted. Isn’t that what the Republicans are accusing the Democrats of? The difference is the Republicans have no evidence and this guy fucking admitted it.

You mean we have no evidence that you are willing to accept as such because it threatens your belief system and causes extreme cognitive dissonance for you.

Here's another for you since we are on the subject

 

 

 

 

[HipKat]

1 hour ago, Philly'sFinest said:

You mean we have no evidence that you are willing to accept as such because it threatens your belief system and causes extreme cognitive dissonance for you.

Here's another for you since we are on the subject

 

 

 

 

That story was debunked as soon as it came out. Not to mention, how do you know most of them weren't Biden votes since Biden got FAR more mail in votes than Trump did? Sorry, I know that common sense and logic thing...

Plus there's no way a truck driver would know how many individual votes were on the trailer, only the number of pallets/containers. The guy is a fucking truck driver, not an election official.

ALSO, he parked it at a postal facility and went home. Next day it was gone. And that proves.... what again??

Oh yeah, that you still swallow every bit of pro-stolen election lies and rhetoric you can find

Paxton admitted he blocked 2.5 million votes. What part are you confused by?? The admitting part?

[Philly'sFinest]

1 minute ago, HipKat said:

That story was debunked as soon as it came out. Not to mention, how do you know most of them weren't Biden votes since Biden got FAR more mail in votes than Trump did? Sorry, I know that common sense and logic thing...

Plus there's no way a truck driver would know how many individual votes were on the trailer, only the number of pallets/containers. The guy is a fucking truck driver, not an election official.

ALSO, he parked it at a postal facility and went home. Next day it was gone. And that proves.... what again??

Oh yeah, that you still swallow every bit of pro-stolen election lies and rhetoric you can find

Paxton admitted he blocked 2.5 million votes. What part are you confused by?? The admitting part?

Sounds like he committed high treason if he blocked 2.5 million legal votes. I wonder why nothing has happened with this massive crime up until now? Maybe it's because they were illegal/fraudulent mail in ballots...which we know is a thing. Don't forget the election laws that were bypassed and altered illegally to implement the scam that is mass mail in balloting.

And once again...just because you claim something was debunked doesn't mean it was. This is always your go to line...just like you trying to discredit every source that doesn't fit your accepted version of the truth. The number of ballots he came up with was an estimate based on what he saw when he inspected the load and saw the ballots. If that's the best you can do to "dEbUnK" the claim from this hard working, truck driving Bills fan, then you have done nothing.

And then you say that since the truck disappeared the next day that it proves nothing? Does it prove your claim? Is it not suspicious and opens the possibility of it being taken so they could use those fraudulent ballots?

Talk about swallowing. You have some serious blinders on, and you dismiss every and any claim because you simply can't even bring yourself to have the slightest bit of curiosity and skepticism when it comes to something that screams of shenanigans. 

One day you'll see that you should have been better than this, and we'll be here for it