Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted by the state Senate during his historic impeachment trial on Saturday.
The case was handed over Friday to the state’s top 30 lawmakers to deliberate on 16 articles of impeachment related to abuse of power allegations heard during the sensational two-week trial in Austin.
Paxton received overwhelming support from his Republican colleagues in the state Senate.
All but two of the House’s 18 Republicans voted to acquit him on all 16 charges.
“Today the truth prevailed,” Paxton he said in a statement after the votein which he was not present.
“The truth cannot be buried by slanderous politicians or their powerful benefactors. I have said it many times: Seek the truth! And that is what was achieved.”
The vote is a strong repudiation of the GOP-dominated Texas state Assembly, which voted overwhelmingly to impeach Paxton in May.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been indicted and will leave office after a historic vote by the state Senate.AP
The case was handed over Friday to the state’s top 30 lawmakers to deliberate on 16 articles of impeachment involving allegations of abuses of power.
“We uncovered unprecedented abuses in the Texas Attorney General’s office by Mr. Paxton,” Republican Rep. Andrew Murr, who served as prosecutor against Paxton, said during closing arguments on the Senate floor Friday.
The case against Paxton centered on his relationship with real estate developer Nate Paul, a major political donor to whom members of his office accused him of illegally doing numerous favors.
Paul is also said to have helped Paxton by employing his lover and keeping the relationship a secret.
The case against Paxton centered on his relationship with real estate developer Nate Paul, a major political donor to whom members of his office accused him of illegally doing numerous favors. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The case was handed over to the state’s top 30 lawmakers to deliberate on 16 articles of impeachment related to allegations of abuses of power. ZUMAPRESS.com
“We have all sinned and fallen short,” Paxton’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, declared of his client, who has been married to his college sweetheart, state Sen. Angela Paxton, since 1986.
Although the senator was ordered to be present in court for the trial, she was not allowed to vote.
“If this impeachment is based on improper martial conduct, then line up, line up; “We are going to have a lot of impeachments in this city,” Buzbee added.
Paxton’s lover, Laura Olson, whose identity was revealed by The Post in May, was supposed to testify during the trial, but despite being called to the stand, she was mysteriously allowed to skip the statement.
Olson, a former political aide to state Sen. Donna Campbell, appeared at the state Capitol building on Wednesday; However, when prosecutors attempted to call her to the witness stand, she was deemed “unavailable to testify.”
The case was handed over Friday to the state’s top 30 lawmakers to deliberate on 16 articles of impeachment related to abuse of power allegations heard during the sensational two-week trial in Austin. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who admitted to previously knowing Olson and presiding as a judge at Paxton’s trial, did not give a reason why she was unavailable, but added that both prosecutors and Paxton’s defense team had. accepted.
The move meant Olson avoided having to testify in front of his wife.
Paxton himself did not attend most of his trial, only showing his face during opening and closing arguments.
Separately, Paxton faces criminal charges in Houston, according to the Texas Tribune. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The Senate needed 21 votes to remove him from office.
The acquittal means he could resume his role as chief prosecutor in the Lone Star State.
Separately, Paxton faces criminal charges in Houston, according to the Texas Tribune.
Those charges stem from allegations that he defrauded investors in technology startup Servergy, Inc.
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