| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | 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 trial in the Texas Senate is to begin on Sept. 5, and 3 senators have objected to the rules which have not been publicly disclosed as of June 21, 2023. |
| | + | |
| | + | Ken Paxton was a leading possible challenger to the [[RINO]] Abbott for his reelection campaign in 2026, when [[Trump]] is expected to endorse an opponent against Abbott. Governor Abbott has been notably silent about the ambush impeachment of Paxton despite widespread criticism of this by many [[conservative]]s. Rather than appoint a potential [[George P. Bush]] to this key position, Abbott appointed a loyalist to him, the former Texas Secretary of State John Scott. |
| | | | |
| | 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. |
| Line 12: |
Line 14: |
| | 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> Governor 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). | + | 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> |
| | | | |
| | ==Background== | | ==Background== |