The Texas House Saturday voted to impeach embattled state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).
The vote was 121-23, with two present but not voting, and three who were absent from the chamber. He will be suspended from office pending a trial in the Senate.
The surprising vote came at the end of a week in which Paxton called on House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign after video was aired online and in news reports appearing to show Phelan drunk at the podium during a House session.
Last week it was also revealed that Paxton has been under investigation by the House for misappropriation of funds in a settlement with several former employees of his office.
On Thursday, a state House investigative committee recommended his impeachment, finding that he had “used, misused, or failed to use his official powers in a manner calculated to subvert the lawful operation of the government.”
The 20 counts in the resolution contained a grab bag of alleged inappropriate favors done for donors, interference in federal investigations and retaliation against whistleblowers.
Allies of Paxton launched a vigorous defense of him online, text and in email campaign calling on supporters to flood the statehouse with emails and peaceful demonstrations both for Paxton and against Phelan, who Conservatives called a republican and name only (RINO) who allegedly killed bills desired by voters.
One text, sent by The Texas Family Project, read: "While we were fighting to defend kids, #DrunkDade Phelan teamed up with Democrats to stop us. Now he's working with the Anti-Family Left to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. Tell Phelan and the Democrats that it is time to get to work, not play political games."
The group called on supporters to sign an online petition, which concluded: "This impeachment process is premature and a distraction from the important work that our elected officials should be focusing on - serving the people of Texas."
(Full story HERE
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