Changes

The '''Paxton Impeachment''' is the ongoing current [[impeachment and removal|impeachment and proposed removal]] of [[conservative]] [[Texas]] Attorney General [[Ken Paxton]] from office.

The '''Paxton Impeachment''' is the ongoing current [[impeachment and removal|impeachment and proposed removal]] of [[conservative]] [[Texas]] Attorney General [[Ken Paxton]] from office.

The impeachment of Paxton has resulted in a split between Republicans.  Both sides in the Republican party recognize that Paxton's actions and lawsuits against [[Biden Administration]] officials and Federal agencies, claiming overreach into state matters, have had a fair level of success in the courts, and are beneficial to overarching Republican goals of keeping the state politically conservative and desirable as a relocation destination for businesses and individuals (and, as a side benefit, maintaining Republican control over state politics, which the Republicans have managed to accomplish for nearly two decades).  Both sides also recognize, though, that Paxton has had long-standing legal and other issues involving very serious matters.

The impeachment of Paxton has resulted in a split between Republicans.  Both sides in the Republican party recognize that Paxton's actions and lawsuits against [[Biden Administration]] officials and Federal agencies, claiming overreach into state matters, have had a fair level of success in the courts, and are beneficial to overarching Republican goals of keeping the state politically conservative and desirable as a relocation destination for businesses and individuals (and, as a side benefit, maintaining Republican control over state politics, which the Republicans have managed to accomplish for nearly two decades).  Both sides also recognize, though, that Paxton has had long-standing legal and other issues involving very serious matters.

The events surrounding this action have occurred amid an alleged pattern of other purported political misuse of prosecutorial power, such as the indictment against [[Donald Trump]] (which took place on the same day that a key figure in the Paxton impeachment was arrested on Federal charges).  Even the [[liberal]] ''[[New York Times]]'' observed that impeachment of Paxton was “unexpected — as of a week ago [prior to the vote to impeach] there was little public indication that an impeachment could be imminent.”<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/us/texas-republicans-ken-paxton-legislature.html</ref>

The events surrounding this action have occurred amid an alleged pattern of other purported political misuse of prosecutorial power, such as the indictment against [[Donald Trump]] (which took place on the same day that a key figure in the Paxton impeachment was arrested on Federal charges).  Even the [[liberal]] ''[[New York Times]]'' observed that impeachment of Paxton was “unexpected — as of a week ago [prior to the vote to impeach] there was little public indication that an impeachment could be imminent.”<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/us/texas-republicans-ken-paxton-legislature.html</ref>

The driving force behind this is apparently a grudge held by numerous [[Texas oligarchy|oligarchs in Texas]], among them Dick Weekley, who spent more than $5M against Paxton in his March 2022 primary only to be humiliated by Paxton's victory, and who has "given money to all those voting for impeachment ... [and] given close to 2 million dollars to the impeachment managers. Most telling he gave and raised millions to Paxton’s primary opponent, Eva Guzman."<ref>https://twitter.com/houston_cf/status/1666085107684503555?s=20</ref>

The driving force behind this is apparently a grudge held by numerous [[Texas oligarchy|oligarchs in Texas]], among them Dick Weekley, who spent more than $5M against Paxton in his March 2022 primary only to be humiliated by Paxton's victory, and who has "given money to all those voting for impeachment ... [and] given close to 2 million dollars to the impeachment managers. Most telling he gave and raised millions to Paxton’s primary opponent, Eva Guzman."<ref>https://twitter.com/houston_cf/status/1666085107684503555?s=20</ref> Gov. [[Greg Abbott]] has been notably silent about the whole issue (other than nominating former Texas Secretary of State John Scott, who is politically loyal to him, as Paxton's interim replacement).

==Background==

==Background==