The impeachment trial of suspended Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton moved Friday into the fingers of a Senate jury that was deciding whether or not the Republican ought to be faraway from workplace over corruption allegations which have shadowed him for years.
The jury of largely GOP senators met for about eight hours in secret with out rising for a vote. Deliberations had been set to renew Saturday morning.
The deliberations pushed Paxton, whose three phrases in workplace have been marred by scandal and criminal charges, nearer to a defining take a look at of his political sturdiness after a rare impeachment that was driven by his fellow Republicans and has widened celebration fractures in America’s greatest purple state. For almost a decade, Paxton has elevated his nationwide profile by speeding his workplace into polarizing courtroom battles throughout the U.S., successful acclaim from former President Trump and the GOP’s arduous proper.
Making one remaining attraction to convict Texas’ high lawyer, impeachment managers who embrace a few of Paxton’s former associates solid him as a criminal. The time has come, they argued, for the state and the Republican Social gathering to sever ties.
“If we don’t hold public officers from abusing the powers of their workplace, then frankly nobody can,” mentioned Republican state Rep. Andrew Murr, a member of the bipartisan group of impeachment managers from the Texas Home of Representatives, in his closing arguments.
If convicted, Paxton would change into Texas’ first statewide official convicted on impeachment prices in additional than 100 years.
In an indignant and defiant rebuttal, Paxton lawyer Tony Buzbee unleashed assaults on a wide-ranging solid of figures inside and outdoors the Texas Capitol, mocking a Texas Ranger who warned Paxton he was risking indictment and one other accuser who cried on the witness stand.
Leaning into flaring divisions amongst Republicans, Buzbee portrayed the impeachment as a plot orchestrated by an previous guard of GOP rivals. He singled out George P. Bush, the nephew of former President George W. Bush who challenged Paxton within the 2022 Republican major, punctuating a blistering closing argument that questioned the integrity of FBI brokers and railed in opposition to Texas’ most well-known political dynasty.
“This can be a political trial,” Buzbee mentioned. “I might counsel to you it’s a political witch hunt.”
Paxton, who till Friday had attended solely the primary few hours of the trial, sat on the protection desk and sipped from a cup.
His return didn’t go unnoticed.
“He hasn’t even bothered to be right here for the entire trial,” Murr mentioned. “Clearly he thinks he would possibly get away with this.”
Sitting throughout the room from Paxton was his spouse, state Sen. Angela Paxton, who was required to attend the entire trial however is barred from taking part in deliberations or voting on her husband’s political destiny.
Within the Senate gallery had been three of Paxton’s former deputies who reported him to the FBI in 2020, accusing him of breaking the legislation to assist Austin actual property developer Nate Paul. All three of the ex-deputies testified, included the previous Texas Ranger, David Maxwell.
Their whistleblower accounts launched an FBI investigation that can proceed whatever the verdict. Federal prosecutors investigating Paxton took testimony in August earlier than a grand jury in San Antonio, based on two folks with information of the matter who spoke on situation of anonymity due to secrecy guidelines across the continuing.
One mentioned the grand jury heard from Drew Wicker, Paxton’s former private aide. On the impeachment trial, Wicker testified that he as soon as heard a contractor inform Paxton he would wish to test with “Nate” about the price of renovations to the legal professional normal’s Austin residence.
Paul was indicted in June on prices of constructing false statements to banks to acquire greater than $170 million in loans. He has pleaded not responsible.
Throughout closing arguments, the protection centered on telling senators that there was both no proof for the fees or that any proof didn’t rise past an inexpensive doubt. The Home impeachment managers, against this, walked by way of particular paperwork and performed clips of testimony by the deputies who reported Paxton to the FBI.
The final phrase of closing arguments got here from one in every of Paxton’s former associates, Republican state Rep. Jeff Leach, who mentioned that he “cherished” his onetime political mentor and that they attended church collectively. Nonetheless, he instructed senators, Paxton deserved punishment.
One of many impeachment articles facilities on an alleged extramarital affair Paxton had with Laura Olson, who labored for Paul. It alleges that Paul’s hiring of Olson amounted to a bribe. In a dramatic scene this week, she was known as to the witness stand however finally by no means testified.
The decision shall be determined by 30 state senators, most of them Republicans. Convicting him on any of the 16 articles of impeachment requires a two-thirds majority within the Senate, that means if all 12 Democrats vote to convict, they would wish 9 Republicans to affix them.
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has mentioned the trial will proceed by way of the weekend if obligatory.
With time operating out, Paxton on Thursday pointed to renewed assist from Trump, who criticized the impeachment as “shameful” in a put up on his social media platform.
For years, Trump has fanned the flames of his supporters’ mistrust of the FBI within the face of authorized troubles. On Friday, Buzbee leaned into these misgivings throughout closing arguments that had been televised and geared toward an viewers past the senators within the room.
“Can we imagine that the FBI is at all times on the up and up? Or can all of us agree typically they choose and so they select?” Buzbee mentioned.
Like Trump, Paxton faces an array of authorized troubles. He stays beneath federal investigation for a similar allegations that gave rise to his impeachment and faces a bar disciplinary continuing over his effort to overturn the 2020 election.
Paxton has but to face trial on state securities fraud prices relationship to 2015. He pleaded not responsible in that case, however his attorneys have mentioned elimination from workplace would possibly open the door to a plea settlement.
Bleiberg reported from Dallas.
