Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has refused to testify at his impeachment trial. He is being charged on more than 20 counts, including accusations of bribery and abuse of power. Paxton is at risk of being permanently removed from office.
Multiple senior aides reported Paxton to federal authorities, claiming that he used his status to help a real estate investor from Austin, Nate Paul, who was being investigated for fraud. Paul allegedly hired a woman with whom Paxton was having an affair and helped pay for renovations to Paxton’s home. Paul was arrested last month by the FBI.
In addition, Paxton has been accused of falsifying claims to investors about a Texas software business.
Paxton has been suspended from office pending the outcome of the trial. Impeachment investigations began after Paxton requested $3.3 million to silence whistleblowers at his office. The Texas House came to their decision in May, making Paxton the third sitting Texas official to be impeached.
Paxton’s attorney put out a statement on Tuesday, condemning the investigation and stating that Paxton will not cooperate.
“We will not bow to their evil, illegal, and unprecedented weaponization of state power in the Senate chamber,” said Paxton’s attorney.
The trial is set to begin on September 5 and will take place in the Texas Senate.
