Paxton impeachment trial begins in the Senate
Date Posted: 9/06/2023 | Author: Tricia Cave
The impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) began Tuesday in the Texas Senate, with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) presiding over votes on various motions submitted by the defense team in an effort to dismiss the case.
Paxton was impeached by a bipartisan majority of the Texas House, 121-23, on May 27. The House then named impeachment managers and sent the case to the Senate for trial.
A supermajority of the Senate, including a majority of the members from both parties, voted to deny each of Paxton’s motions to dismiss. After Paxton entered a plea on each article of impeachment, and both sides delivered opening statements, the House impeachment managers began presenting evidence late in the afternoon.
The trial is expected to last for much of September. If convicted by the Senate, Paxton stands to be permanently removed from office. It will take votes from 20 of the 30 senators acting as jurors to convict. Sen. Angela Paxton (R–McKinney), the attorney general’s wife, is sitting through the trial but is not allowed to cast a vote.
CONVERSATION
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
04/30/2024
May the Fourth Be with You at the Polling Place
We know you just voted in the primary, but it’s time to vote again—and maybe one more time after that, depending on where you live.
04/29/2024
SBEC meets to debate the future of TX TPA, teacher pedagogy standards
Lengthy debate ensued on “lesson design” vs. “lesson internalization.”
04/26/2024
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: April 26, 2024
Are you ready to vote in the May 4 local election and, if applicable, the May 28 primary runoff?