“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces impeachment and FBI investigation over bribery and obstruction charges”

From our correspondent in the United States,

“Dallaaaaas, your ruthless universe”. In a saga that has nothing to envy to the famous soap opera of the 1980s, the Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, is under threat of impeachment led by the Republicans of the Lone star state, with a vote scheduled for Saturday. Accused of bribery and obstruction of justice in a torturous case involving a wealthy donor and whistleblowers, this Donald Trump ally has hit back by asking for the House Speaker’s head, suggesting he chaired a session drunk.

In the event of a trial in the Senate, Paxton’s future could notably be decided by his wife, elected in 2019. Who should consider an article accusing the attorney general of having hired his mistress.

Charged by Texas justice and targeted by an FBI investigation

Ken Paxton’s troubles date back to 2015. Barely elected chief prosecutor (attorney general), the former representative and senator was charged with financial fraud by Texas justice, who accused him of having sold shares to investors without reveal that he was compensated by the company. Repeatedly postponed, his trial has still not taken place.

For years, elected officials have acted as if nothing had happened, including in 2020 when Paxton was accused by four subordinates of using Texas court services to help a wealthy campaign donor. Who would have hired the mistress of the prosecutor in exchange. According to CNN, an investigation has since been opened by the FBI.

The four whistleblowers attacked the attorney general’s office in civil court, accusing Paxton of firing them in retaliation. The prosecutor ended up reaching an out-of-court settlement for $3.3 million — a bill that was supposed to be paid by Texas taxpayers. This is where the elected Republicans decided to whistle the end of recess, to avoid having to approve this regulation.

As the noose tightened, Ken Paxton this week asked for the head of Republican Speaker of the House, Dade Phelan, saying the latter had presided over a drunken session. On the video, the Speaker clearly does not look fresh, but several colleagues, including Democrats, claim that it had been a very long day and that he was not under the influence of alcohol.

Paxton’s wife, potential juror

Everything accelerated on Thursday. A committee voted unanimously to introduce 20 articles of impeachment against Ken Paxton, which are due to be considered by the House on Saturday. As in the Washington Congress, an impeachment is voted on by a simple majority. Notable difference, in the event of impeachment, the attorney general would be suspended from office, pending the verdict of a trial in the Senate.

For a conviction – synonymous with dismissal – a two-thirds majority is required, or 21 out of 31 senators (19 Republicans and 12 Democrats). To add spice to this soap opera, the fate of Paxton could notably be in the hands of his wife Angela, elected senator in 2019. If a trial takes place, she would however have the possibility of recuse herself.

The case is rocking Republicans nationally. In 2020, Ken Paxton fiercely supported Donald Trump’s accusations of fraud, even going so far as to file an appeal with the Supreme Court of the United States, which the instance had rejected. Former Trump 2016 campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson took a stand, assuring on Twitter “MAGA Texan Republicans support Ken Paxton in the face of the Republican establishment joining Democrats in attacking our Attorney General. The civil war is not far away.