Global Courant
Republican Ken Paxton, who was suspended as Texas attorney general in May following his impeachment by the GOP-controlled state House, does not plan to testify at his Senate trial, his attorney says.
His lead attorney, Tony Buzbee, said in a statement that Paxton “was impeached by kangaroo court at the Texas House” and that Paxton “will not dignify the illegal House action by testifying.”
“The House has ignored precedent, denied him the chance to prepare his defense, and now wants to ambush him on the Senate floor,” Buzbee said in the statement Monday. “They had the option of having Attorney General Paxton testify during their mock investigation, but declined to do so. We will not bow to their vicious, illegal and unprecedented weaponization of state power in the Senate chamber.”
Buzbee called the articles of impeachment against Paxton “meritorious and absurd”.
“It’s about silencing conservatives, eliminating an effective political opponent and overturning elections,” he said.
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and State Representative Andrew Murr, who chairs the House committee that investigated Paxton, did not immediately respond to NBC News’ requests for comment.
Senate Angela Paxton, chair of the GOP caucus in the Texas Senate and married to Ken Paxton, will not be allowed to vote in her husband’s impeachment trial.
The GOP-controlled Texas House has impeached Paxton on charges of trespassing, abuse of office, taking bribes and obstructing justice. Sixty of the 85 House Republicans, including Phelan, voted to impeach Paxton.
Paxton has been years under FBI investigation on allegations that he used his office to help a donor and was charged separately in 2015 on securities fraud charges, though he has yet to face trial.
The impeachment process begins on September 5. Each side is given 24 hours to present evidence, and 60 minutes are each allotted for opening statements and closing arguments.
If two-thirds of the Senate vote to convict Paxton on even one of the charges, he will be permanently removed.
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott, a Republican, appointed former Secretary of State John Scott to a temporary position as attorney general in late May following Paxton’s impeachment.
