TX AG Paxton urges protests at Capitol before impeachment vote.

Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas, has urged his supporters to peacefully protest at the state Capitol ahead of an expected impeachment vote on Saturday afternoon. The vote threatens to remove the state’s top prosecutor over alleged wrongdoings. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Paxton decried the state’s efforts to remove him from office as an “illegal impeachment scheme.”

“I want to invite my fellow citizens and friends to peacefully come let their voices be heard at the Capitol,” Paxton said. “Exercise your right to petition your government. Let’s restore the power of this great state to the people instead of to the politicians.”

Impeachment Vote

The Texas House of Representatives will start to consider a resolution calling for Paxton’s impeachment at 1 p.m. on Saturday. This comes a day after the committee filed 20 articles of impeachment against the attorney general, who has served in the top position since January 2015. The accusations against the 60-year-old lawmaker include misuse of official powers, bribery, and abuse of public trust over several years.

Paxton and Phelan

On May 23, Paxton accused Rep. Dade Phelan of being drunk while presiding on the House floor on May 19, calling for the fourth-term Republican lawmaker’s resignation over his conduct. Phelan’s office brushed this off as an attempt to “save face.”

The speaker’s office said Paxton’s call for Phelan’s resignation was motivated by the House Ethics Committee’s investigation of a $3.3 million whistleblower settlement the attorney general reached with four former employees who accused him of corruption.

Legal Troubles

Much of the articles of impeachment revolve around Paxton allegedly using his political status to help campaign donor and real estate developer Nate Paul on several occasions in 2020—allegedly trying to protect the donor from an FBI investigation and attempting to thwart whistleblower complaints brought by his own staff.

Defending Himself

Paxton accused members of the committee of attempting to oust him on charges based on “hearsay and gossip,” further arguing that neither he nor his office had been given an opportunity to address the allegations. Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the state Republican Party, has also denounced the process as a “sham,” urging the GOP-controlled Senate to acquit Paxton if he stands trial in that chamber.

“The corrupt politicians in the Texas House are demonstrating that blind loyalty to [House] Speaker Dade Phelan is more important than upholding their oath of office,” Paxton told Friday’s address. “They are determined to ignore the law. They have denied me the opportunity to present the evidence which contradicts their politically motivated narrative and are showcasing their absolute contempt for the electoral process.”

What Happens if Impeached?

If impeached, Paxton would be suspended from office immediately and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, could appoint an interim replacement. Paxton would be just the third person in the state’s nearly 200-year history to be impeached and the first statewide officer since former Gov. James “Pa” Ferguson in 1917.