Changes

Politically, all indications point to the publicly silent Gov. [[Greg Abbott]] as being behind this unprecedented ambush impeachment, because [[Trump]]-endorsed Paxton would likely defeat open-border Abbott in his primary in 2026.  Two [[conservative]]s challenged Abbott in 2022 for failing to secure the border and obstructing other conservative policies, and Abbott won only by obtaining Trump's endorsement which Abbott will not have for reelection in 2026.  Abbott misuses his [[Texas oligarchy]] to exert control over Texas Republican legislators, who face a deprival of campaign funds and a well-funded primary challenger if they cross Abbott.

Politically, all indications point to the publicly silent Gov. [[Greg Abbott]] as being behind this unprecedented ambush impeachment, because [[Trump]]-endorsed Paxton would likely defeat open-border Abbott in his primary in 2026.  Two [[conservative]]s challenged Abbott in 2022 for failing to secure the border and obstructing other conservative policies, and Abbott won only by obtaining Trump's endorsement which Abbott will not have for reelection in 2026.  Abbott misuses his [[Texas oligarchy]] to exert control over Texas Republican legislators, who face a deprival of campaign funds and a well-funded primary challenger if they cross Abbott.

The events surrounding this impeachment 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).  However, while the issues surrounding Trump involve one political party going after a member of the other party, in this case the allegations involve a split within the Republican party, that a group of [[RINO]]s are pushing to remove Paxton for being conservative. Some observers view the split as between the remnants of the [[George W. Bush]] machine and populist [[MAGA]] Trump Republicans.<ref>[https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/09/15/tony-buzbee-the-bush-era-in-texas-ends-today-they-can-go-back-to-maine-this-is-texas/ Tony Buzbee, “The Bush Era in Texas Ends Today” – “They Can Go Back to Maine, THIS Is Texas”…], Sundance, ''The Conservative Treehouse, September 15, 2023.</ref>

The events surrounding this impeachment 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).  However, while the issues surrounding Trump involve one political party going after a member of the other party, in this case the allegations involve a split within the Republican party, that a group of [[RINO]]s are pushing to remove Paxton for being conservative. Some observers view the split as between the remnants of the [[George W. Bush]] machine and populist [[MAGA]] Trump Republicans.<ref>[https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2023/09/15/tony-buzbee-the-bush-era-in-texas-ends-today-they-can-go-back-to-maine-this-is-texas/ Tony Buzbee, “The Bush Era in Texas Ends Today” – “They Can Go Back to Maine, THIS Is Texas”…], Sundance, ''The Conservative Treehouse'', September 15, 2023.</ref>

Lt. Gov. [[Dan Patrick]] appointed as his trial adviser a former state court judge who had donated to an opponent of [[Ken Paxton]] in 2021.  A day after the appointment, Marc Brown declined the assignment based on his $250 donation to an opponent of Paxton.<ref>https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/19/dan-patrick-marc-brown-paxton-impeachment-adviser-counsel/</ref>

Lt. Gov. [[Dan Patrick]] appointed as his trial adviser a former state court judge who had donated to an opponent of [[Ken Paxton]] in 2021.  A day after the appointment, Marc Brown declined the assignment based on his $250 donation to an opponent of Paxton.<ref>https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/19/dan-patrick-marc-brown-paxton-impeachment-adviser-counsel/</ref>