Paxton Wants Most Charges Against Him Dismissed

[#TexasPolitics365]

Lawyers for impeached Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday sought to have most of the charges against him dismissed, arguing that they rely on alleged acts of corruption before he was reelected to a third term in 2022.

In motions filed with the Senate, where Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5, his attorneys said they believe state law bars the removal of an official for conduct that occurred before their most recent election. Paxton was first elected attorney general in 2014 and the impeachment charges include alleged conduct since then.

(Full story HERE.)
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Texas House Impeaches AG Paxton

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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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Abbott Endorses Moves To Impeach Homeland Security Secretary

[#TexasPolitics365]

Gov. Greg Abbott has endorsed the effort by some in the new GOP majority in the US House of Representatives tol impeach Alejandro Mayorkas, President Joe Biden’s Homeland Security secretary, over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"The facts are that Secretary Mayorkas has repeatedly told the public that the border is secure and that the border is not open," Abbott said in a national exclusive interview with Fox News Digital ahead of his inauguration Tuesday for a third four-year term steering the Lone Star State

(Full story HERE.)

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Texas Congressman Wants Homeland Chief Impeached

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A Texas Republican has filed articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, wasting little time in the new Congress to act on a GOP priority leadership has said would come after thorough investigation.

Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) filed the paperwork for the resolution on Jan. 3, the first day of the 118th Congress, though with delays in securing a House Speaker, the document was officially filed late Monday.

(Full story HERE.)
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Legislators File Impeachment Resolutions Against Two Judges

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Representatives Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City) each filed resolutions seeking impeachment of Judge Chris Morton of the 230th District Court in Harris County and Judge Brad Urrutia of the 450th District Court in Travis County.

Both resolutions cite the actions of the respective judges in blocking the arrest of Democrats who refused to attend the House regular and special sessions. The legislators say the judges overstepped their constitutional duties and interfered in the business of the legislature.

(Full story here.)
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GOP Gov. Candidate West Calls For Impeachment of 3 Harris County Judges

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen West is calling on the state's leaders and the state legislature to impeach three Houston area judges that he says have released violent felons back onto the streets.

In a press release, West said, "Judges Morton, Jones, and Cornelio should be brought up on impeachment charges by Speaker Phelan and Governor Abbott. Their release of violent criminals back onto the streets of Houston and streets across Texas is a dereliction of their duty. By releasing dangerous felons back into our community, these three judges are responsible for dozens of needless deaths."

The judges he referred to are Chris Morton, DaSean Jones, and Natalia Cornelio.

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Crenshaw, Roy, McCaul Condemn Trump, Oppose Impeachment

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Texas Republican Congressmen Dan Crenshaw and Chip Roy released a statement Wednesday condemning President Trump's behavior leading up to the Capitol riot last Wednesday, but opposing the Democrats' move to impeach him in the House during the last days of his administration.

Crenshaw tweeted:

"We can’t ignore the President’s behavior leading up to the violence in the Capitol last week. He bears enormous responsibility for it. But impeachment is not the answer. We all need to deescalate, lower the temperature, and move forward together as a country."

He also posted a graphic of a larger statement, signed by him, Chip Roy, and two other Republican congressmen, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and John Curtis of Utah, condemning the president's actions on the day of the riot, but calling on Congress not to impeach the president.

The statement is likely to please no one, antagonizing Republican voters at home, while not appeasing Democrats in the House, seeking vengeance on the president and all Republicans for the events of January 6.

Houston area congressman Mike McCaul released a similar statement Wednesday that also condemned the president but stop short of supporting impeachment.

"I strongly condemn the president's rhetoric and his behavior," said McCaul, admitting that, "there very well may have been impeached offenses committed leading up to, and on, that tragic day."

As a threat of impeachment loomed large over the president Wednesday, Trump issued a statement condemning violence.

He called on Americans to “ease tensions and calm tempers."

“In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind,” Trump said. “That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for.”

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