Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial on charges of abuse of power may reach its conclusion as early as this week, as declared by the presiding officer on Monday.
In the second week of these historic proceedings, another former aide of Paxton testified. This individual had reported Paxton to the FBI in 2020, alleging that the Republican official had misused his office to benefit a political donor. Notably, Paxton, who has pleaded not guilty, was once again absent from the Texas Senate during the testimony.
It appears that the trial may not extend into a third week. The Republican Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick, who is overseeing the trial, noted that each side has utilized approximately half of its allotted time for arguments, indicating that the case could be handed over to the jury later this week.
Furthermore, Patrick declared that there would be no further breaks until the trial’s conclusion, raising the possibility of a weekend decision.
The jury in this case consists of the Republican-controlled state Senate. Paxton had previously served as a senator in this chamber before assuming the position of Attorney General in 2015. Notably, his wife, State Senator Angela Paxton, is one of the 31 senators in the chamber but is not eligible to vote in the trial.
Paxton’s legal troubles date back to 2015 when he was indicted on felony securities fraud charges. He has remained under FBI investigation since a notable rebellion by his top deputies five years later. During Monday’s proceedings, Mark Penley, one of these former deputies, took the witness stand and recounted allegations of Paxton pressuring them to assist a local developer named Nate Paul, who had contributed $25,000 to Paxton’s campaign and was under FBI scrutiny.
Paul himself faced indictment this summer on charges related to bank fraud and had accused FBI agents and a judge of misconduct. Penley expressed his reluctance to be involved in such actions, stating, “That we would investigate a federal magistrate judge and federal prosecutors is insane.”
These proceedings continue to captivate Texas and the nation, as they delve into allegations of abuse of power by a high-ranking state official. The outcome remains uncertain, but it is a chapter in Texas political history that will not soon be forgotten.
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