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→Investigation into Abuse of Position
In March 2023, the House General Investigating Committee announced an investigation into what it termed at the time to be "Matter A".
In March 2023, the House General Investigating Committee announced an investigation into what it termed at the time to be "Matter A".
In May 2023, the Committee revealed that the subject of "Matter A" was, in fact, Paxton. Afterwards, in response, Paxton called for the resignation of state House Speaker [[Dade Phelan]] after Phelan appeared inebriated while presiding over the House.<ref>Video clips of the incident are widely circulated. It should be known that the incident took place on May 11, 2023, the 122nd day of the Regular Session, when all bills originating in the House (excluding those on the Local and Consent Calendar) must either receive a vote by midnight or be considered dead. The Democrats, as usual, engaged in the regular practice of [[chubbing]], so as to slow down the process; by the time of the incident the daily session has been going on for 14 hours and a particular bill was on its 23rd amendment; it has been argued that Phelan's actions were the result of fatigue.</ref> Paxton also said that Phelan has repeatedly blocked many conservative measures in the House which were already approved in the state Senate under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor [[Dan Patrick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thelibertydaily.com/ken-paxton-calls-on-texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-to-resign-after-debilitating-intoxication/|title=Ken Paxton Calls on Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to Resign After “Debilitating Intoxication”|author=J. D. Rucker|date=May 23, 2023|accessdate=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
In May 2023, the Committee revealed that the subject of "Matter A" was, in fact, Paxton. The matter involved a request by Paxton that the Legislature approve payment of a $3.3 million settlement involving four whistleblower staff members that Paxton had called "rogue employees".
On May 25, the Committee unanimously adopted articles of impeachment against Paxton, recommending his removal from office.
On the 24th of that month the Committee heard the results of its investigating attorneys. Among the allegations was that Paxton used his office to benefit a campaign donor by, among other things, 1) intervening in a lawsuit involving a charitable organization suing the donor for fraud, and then attempting to force the organization to settle for a fraction of the amount requested in the suit, 2) allegedly providing details of a search warrant to identify the people involved in a federal raid on the donor's business, and 3) attempting to interfere in a planned foreclosure on several properties owned by the donor by claiming that such sales were prevented by COVID-19 restrictions against "public gatherings" (while simultaneously chastising local governments for attempts to use COVID-19 as a basis for restricting public gatherings such as church worship services).
Afterwards, in response, Paxton called for the resignation of state House Speaker [[Dade Phelan]] after Phelan appeared inebriated while presiding over the House.<ref>Video clips of the incident are widely circulated. It should be known that the incident took place on May 11, 2023, the 122nd day of the Regular Session, when all bills originating in the House (excluding those on the Local and Consent Calendar) must either receive a vote by midnight or be considered dead. The Democrats, as usual, engaged in the regular practice of [[chubbing]], so as to slow down the process; by the time of the incident the daily session has been going on for 14 hours and a particular bill was on its 23rd amendment; it has been argued that Phelan's actions were the result of fatigue.</ref> Paxton also said that Phelan has repeatedly blocked many conservative measures in the House which were already approved in the state Senate under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor [[Dan Patrick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thelibertydaily.com/ken-paxton-calls-on-texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-to-resign-after-debilitating-intoxication/|title=Ken Paxton Calls on Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to Resign After “Debilitating Intoxication”|author=J. D. Rucker|date=May 23, 2023|accessdate=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
On May 25, the Committee unanimously adopted articles of impeachment against Paxton, recommending his removal from office. The Committee chair has announced plans to bring forth the resolution containing the impeachment articles at 1PM on Saturday, May 27, 2023.
==References==
==References==