Staff Reports
After the Texas Senate voted to not indict Ken Paxton on all 16 charges of misconduct, the state's attorney general returned to work on Saturday. This was a victory for him, as the House of Representatives rushed and did not allow proper debate and cross-examination of the evidence. In response, he sent a letter to Joe Biden, warning him to "buckle up."
In response to the impeachment proceedings against him, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement calling the process a “sham” and accusing the Biden Administration of working with anti-Paxton Republicans and the Democratic Party in Texas to fabricate charges against him. He also stated that he would not let the Biden Administration violate the rights of Texans.
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While Ken Paxton is celebrating his victory, the proceedings against him have been criticized for breaking the established rules. In previous cases in Texas, the accused were given a trial by the House of Representatives, where they would be given the opportunity to cross-examine their witnesses. The lack of this type of trial in the case of Paxton has raised questions about how fair the process is.
In response to the allegations, Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, has proposed a constitutional amendment that would establish a precedent for impeaching officials. He said that these measures would ensure that the witnesses are not only given the opportunity to testify under oath, but that they are also allowed to have their lawyers present during the cross-examination.
Despite his acquittal, the controversy surrounding the proceedings against him still persists. As Texas Republicans try to change the process for impeaching the attorney general, it's clear that the battle over his fate is far from over yet.
