Texas attorney general Ken Paxton is facing impeachment as a Republican-led state house committee filed more than a dozen charges over allegations of workplace retaliation and misuse of his office to benefit a personal friend.
The Texas Tribune reports that a panel voted unanimously on Thursday to file articles of impeachment against Paxton to the full chamber. If charged by the House, he will be suspended from his position pending a full trial in the Senate under Texas law, which would allow the governor to appoint an interim replacement.
The 20 articles of impeachment laid out numerous charges including constitutional bribery, disregard of official duty, misapplication of public resources, obstruction of justice, and making false statements. The house committee heard three hours of testimony the day prior from investigators looking into the various claims made against Paxton.
Paxton has been accused of retaliation by four former employees who reported a series of accusations against Paxton to law enforcement, resulting in their firings. They alleged Paxton used his office to benefit his friend Nate Paul, a real-estate developer, in several legal matters. Paul, reportedly, in turn made a $25,000 donation to Paxton’s political operation, helped to renovate Paxton’s home, and even hired a woman that Paxton was allegedly having an affair with on his recommendation, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Paxton later agreed to a $3.3 million settlement with the four...
Police have launched an investigation into alleged false accusation by Park Cheol-min, a former member of the Seongnam International Mafia. Park, ahead of the 2022 presidential election, raised al...