Changes

In addition to allegations that Paul bribed Paxton by paying for Paxton's Austin residence to be completely renovated, and also hiring Paxton's former mistress so that Paxton could maintain their illicit relationship without him traveling to San Antonio where she previously lived, Paxton is alleged to have used OAG resources for the specific benefit of Paul.  Four specific major allegations form the basis for much of the impeachment charges:

In addition to allegations that Paul bribed Paxton by paying for Paxton's Austin residence to be completely renovated, and also hiring Paxton's former mistress so that Paxton could maintain their illicit relationship without him traveling to San Antonio where she previously lived, Paxton is alleged to have used OAG resources for the specific benefit of Paul.  Four specific major allegations form the basis for much of the impeachment charges:

*First, after Paul and his businesses were the subject of an FBI search warrant and ensuing raid (assisted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, or DPS), Paxton is alleged to have attempted to get OAG to release information on the search warrant, which is exempt from open records disclosure under the "law enforcement" exception, stating that he "didn't want to assist the FBI or DPS" (an odd statement from a high-ranking law enforcement official, in a state which prides itself on supporting law enforcement officials).  Failing that, Paxton (through an aide) provided a manila envelope to Paul at one of his business addresses; from that point forward Paul no longer sought the search warrant information.

*First, after Paul and his businesses were the subject of an FBI search warrant and ensuing raid (assisted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, or DPS), Paxton is alleged to have attempted to get OAG to release information on the search warrant, which is exempt from open records disclosure under the "law enforcement" exception, stating that he "didn't want to assist the FBI or DPS" (an odd statement from a high-ranking law enforcement official, in a state which prides itself on supporting law enforcement officials).  Failing that, Paxton (through an aide) provided a manila envelope to Paul at one of his business addresses; from that point forward Paul no longer sought the search warrant information.

*Second, after Paul was sued by the Mitte Foundation, a charitable organization which had invested in several of Paul's properties, Paxton is alleged to have forced OAG to intervene in the matter<ref>Texas law allows OAG to intervene on behalf of a charitable organization, if OAG feels that the organization's interests are not being adequately protected.  However, the Mitte Foundation, a well-endowed organization, believed that it had adequate legal representation and did not request OAG assistance.</ref>, but instead of intervening to the benefit of the Foundation, it did so to the benefit of Paul, by attempting to coerce the Foundation into a settlement which would have greatly reduced the amount Paul owed to them (even though a prior, bilaterally negotiated settlement, remained unpaid by Paul).  Later, a "special prosecutor" hired by OAG (recommended by Paul, who had little or no experience in actual prosecutions, and who's contract several staffers refused to ratify) filed 39 subpoenas against various entities involved in the Mitte trial (actions which OAG staffers would later quash).

*Second, after Paul was sued by the Mitte Foundation, a charitable organization which had invested in several of Paul's properties, Paxton is alleged to have forced OAG to intervene in the matter<ref>Texas law allows OAG to intervene on behalf of a charitable organization, if OAG feels that the organization's interests are not being adequately protected.  However, the Mitte Foundation, a well-endowed organization, believed that it had adequate legal representation and did not request OAG assistance.</ref>, but instead of intervening to the benefit of the Foundation, it did so to the benefit of Paul, by attempting to coerce the Foundation into a settlement which would have greatly reduced the amount Paul owed to them (even though a prior, [[bilateral]]ly [[negotiate]]d settlement, remained unpaid by Paul).  Later, a "special prosecutor" hired by OAG (recommended by Paul, who had little or no experience in actual prosecutions, and who's contract several staffers refused to ratify) filed 39 subpoenas against various entities involved in the Mitte trial (actions which OAG staffers would later quash).

*Third, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Paxton was otherwise suing to keep governments from unilaterally forcing churches and other religious organizations to remain closed, he attempted to rush through a legal opinion which would have kept those same governments from holding public foreclosure sales. He did so using a "straw requestor" (later revealed to be [[Bryan Hughes]], a Republican member of the Texas Senate from East Texas) and forced the opinion (which in normal cases can take up to six months to research, write, and review) to be drafted and issued quickly over the weekend prior to a scheduled foreclosure sale in August 2020; Paul faced no fewer than 13 foreclosures at the upcoming sale.

*Third, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Paxton was otherwise suing to keep governments from unilaterally forcing churches and other religious organizations to remain closed, he attempted to rush through a legal opinion which would have kept those same governments from holding public foreclosure sales. He did so using a "straw requestor" (later revealed to be [[Bryan Hughes]], a Republican member of the Texas Senate from East Texas) and forced the opinion (which in normal cases can take up to six months to research, write, and review) to be drafted and issued quickly over the weekend prior to a scheduled foreclosure sale in August 2020; Paul faced no fewer than 13 foreclosures at the upcoming sale.

*Fourth and finally, after many of Paxton's senior staff repeatedly warned him about his actions involving Paul (while other employees simply resigned), in late September 2020 no fewer than eight staffers went to law enforcement with their concerns and were subsequently either fired or forced to resign.

*Fourth and finally, after many of Paxton's senior staff repeatedly warned him about his actions involving Paul (while other employees simply resigned), in late September 2020 no fewer than eight staffers went to law enforcement with their concerns and were subsequently either fired or forced to resign.