A Republican-led Texas House inquiry has recommended that Attorney General Ken Paxton be impeached.
In a unanimous decision, a Republican-led House investigative committee, which spent months quietly investigating Paxton, recommended impeaching the state’s top attorney. The House could vote on the recommendation as early as Friday. If it deposes Paxton, he would be forced to leave office immediately.
The move brought about what could have been a remarkably sudden downfall for one of the GOP’s most prominent legal fighters, who in 2020 asked the US Supreme Court to overturn Joe Biden’s victory. Only two officials in Texas’ nearly 200-year history have been impeached.
Paxton, who is being charged with securities fraud and under investigation by the FBI for misusing his office to help a donor, is a Fox News favorite and staunch supporter of Donald Trump.
Paxton filed an infamous lawsuit to try to overturn the 2020 election, which the Supreme Court rejected.
Unlike at the federal level, if the heavily Republican Texas House votes to impeach Paxton, he must leave office immediately until the conclusion of his Senate trial. If Paxton is found not guilty in Texas, he could return to work. If he is convicted by the Senate, he will be removed from office.
Like Donald Trump, Ken Paxton has escaped the consequences for years, but 2023 could be the year of justice and it could be coming soon for the Texas Attorney General.