Tag Archives: Texas Senate trial

Perry spot on regarding Paxton

How about that Rick Perry, coming to the defense of the rule of law and the process that produced the impeachment of fellow Republican, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton?

Perry is the longest-serving person ever to hold the office of Texas governor. He wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that it is imperative that the Texas Senate proceed with its trial of Paxton on various charges that he abused the power of his office.

“Republicans once believed in the rule of law. My party had confidence in the U.S. and Texas constitutions and the processes and freedoms they recognize and protect,” he writes. “That’s why it’s shocking to see some Republicans—through a coordinated effort of texts, emails and social-media posts—working to delegitimize the impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Ken Paxton. It points to an important question: Do we trust the processes outlined in our Texas Constitution or not?”

Perry does trust the process and he implores his fellow GOPers to cease their attacks on it.

Perry also said the impeachment that came from the Texas House in the waning days of the 2023 Legislature was done above board and is quite legitimate. He noted, too, that the vote to impeach the AG was overwhelmingly bipartisan, which in Perry’s mind gives the charges against Paxton more legitimacy.

In his Wall Street Journal piece, Perry wrote, “I know that processes can be abused. But that isn’t what I see here.”

Nor do many other Texans.

New charges against Paxton

My peanut gallery perch admittedly doesn’t give me much insight into the nuts and bolts of the case building against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

However, the latest allegations coming forward surely seem to paint an increasingly grim picture of the future that awaits the embattled AG.

Here is a small part of what the Texas Tribune has reported: In new allegations revealed Wednesday, Texas House investigators accused suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton of engaging in a complex cover-up to hide his relationship with real estate investor Nate Paul as senior aides grew increasingly concerned about Paxton’s willingness to use his office to benefit Paul.

Uber account? Cover-up? Extramarital affair? Eek, man!

Ken Paxton worked to hide relationship with Nate Paul, new allegations say | The Texas Tribune

The Texas Senate trial is set to begin Sept. 5. Paxton has been impeached by the Texas House of Representatives in an overwhelming vote. He is suspended from his job as the state’s chief law enforcement officer pending the outcome of the trial.

What fascinates me is that even Paxton’s own fellow Republicans from the district he formerly represented in the House, in Collin County, all voted to impeach him.

I realize senators cannot take this issue into consideration when they deliberate Paxton’s fate, but how in the world does even an acquitted AG return to work with all these marks sullying his reputation, not to mention the office he occupies?

My sense? He cannot return to work … ever! Nor can he expect to deliver any sort of effective decisions in the future.

The Tribune also reports: And once Paxton learned several high-ranking officials in his office reported his behavior to the FBI, the House impeachment managers alleged, he took immediate steps to cover up his relationship with Paul, including wiring a $122,000 payment to a Paul-affiliated company in an effort to hide home renovations that Paul had provided for free.

Hold on, my fellow Texans. This trial is going to be a doozy.

Paxton defense strategy takes shape

Ken Paxton’s defense strategy appears to be taking form, and it appears to have little to do with whether he committed the deeds for which the Texas House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach him.

The Republican Texas attorney general is getting ready to stand trial for a number of allegations sent to the Texas Senate. They involve abuse of office, bribery, obstruction of justice.

Now we have the archconservative group vowing to spend money to get back at those among Republicans who are weary of the right-wing dogma pushed by the state AG.

The Texas Tribune reports: “​The Paxton impeachment could be the most high-profile stumble for the far right of the Texas GOP,” said Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston political science professor. “Paxton was their shining star but now looks more like a shooting star.”

The far-right group called Defend Texas Liberty wants to protect one of their golden boys. Are they saying he’s clean, that he has done nothing wrong? I haven’t heard that.

Ken Paxton’s far-right billionaire backers are fighting hard to save him | The Texas Tribune

I am not able to predict how the Senate will vote at the end of the trial. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has issued a wide-ranging gag order on the Senate that will act as jury in Paxton’s trial. I’m fine with that.

I just have believed for as long as he’s been in office that Paxton is crooked. The House committee that investigated the myriad charges agreed and voted unanimously to recommend impeaching the state’s top law enforcer.

To hear now that right-wing billionaires are encircling the AG to defend him against those within his own Republican Party just sickens me to the max … particularly when no one is making the case for Paxton’s presumed innocence!

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