The Texas Tribune is your source for in-depth reporting on the Ken Paxton impeachment trial. Readers make that possible. Support authoritative Texas journalism with a donation now.
On an early morning in September 2020, Mark Penley ruminated on the Bible’s command to “administer true justice” as he prepared to confront his boss, Attorney General Ken Paxton.
By then Penley, the deputy attorney general for criminal justice, had grown deeply concerned that Paxton was being blackmailed or bribed by Nate Paul, the Austin real estate investor who is at the center of Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Texas Senate. In their meeting, Penley told Paxton that he was being misled by Paul, and warned him to “back away” from his friend and donor before it was too late.
But Paxton didn’t listen. Blinded by what Penley said was a deep and well-known distrust of law enforcement stemming from his 2015 securities fraud indictment, Paxton insisted that Paul was the victim of a grand conspiracy and needed their help.
“You don’t know what it feels like to be the target of a corrupt law enforcement investigation,” Penley said Paxton told him.
Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton is accused of bribery, disregarding his official duty, making false statements and abusing the public trust. Paxton allegedly misused the powers of the attorney general’s office to help his friend and donor Nate Paul, an Austin real...
WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s years-long campaign to undermine faith in U.S. elections has gained broad traction with the American public, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows, p...