Sunday, September 17, 2023

Ken Paxton, who was being impeached, acquitted on all 16 charges

Headline (probable paywall):

Texas AG Ken Paxton Acquitted on All 16 Articles of Impeachment

Following eight days of testimony from both sides, 30 state senators voted on Saturday to acquit or remove from office Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on 16 articles of impeachment.

The state Senate also voted to dismiss the four articles of impeachment that were held in abeyance with a 19–11 vote.

"Today, the truth prevailed. The truth could not be buried by mudslinging politicians or their powerful benefactors. I've said many times: Seek the truth! And that is what was accomplished," Mr. Paxton said in a statement after the acquittal.

There are 31 state senators in Texas; however, only 30 senators—18 Republicans and 12 Democrats—could vote on the impeachment articles because Sen. Angela Paxton, the wife of Mr. Paxton, is ineligible to vote.

Ms. Paxton was required to attend her husband's trial but was barred from participating in deliberation and voting, according to the trial rules.

[ ... ]

"This is 16 trials in one," said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday morning. "This is not a normal trial."

The state's top lawyer, who was reelected to a third term in November, was impeached by a GOP-led House on allegations including bribery and abuse of power. The charges centered on allegations that Mr. Paxton used his office to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, who was under federal investigation.

In June, Mr. Paul was indicted on federal charges of making false statements to banks. Mr. Paxton is not mentioned in the indictments.

Mr. Paxton attended closing arguments. He had not attended the trial since the first day when he was required to enter his pleas on each of the 16 articles of impeachment he was facing in the trial.

"I'm heading to Maine to sit down with @TuckerCarlson and discuss the last two weeks in Texas politics. It should be interesting!" Mr. Paxton wrote on X earlier this week.

The attorney general pleaded not guilty to all of the articles. It was not mandatory for him to attend the trial or take the stand on his own behalf.

I wasn't sure what to think about this impeachment, and commenters at Instapundit seemed to be all over the place about it. The thing everyone agreed on was, "If he's actually guilty, then let him be punished"—something you'll never hear from the left, which is so fanatically invested in its own people that ideology will always trump truth. I guess I'm happy for Mr. Paxton, but I still need to read up more on his case before making up my mind. At present, the main thing I know is that this impeachment was important.

How's that for substance-free commentary?



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