The impeachment trial for Paxton is scheduled for September 5 after the Texas House voted 121-23 to impeach the Republican leader, a former state senator and state rep. Paxton won a third term last year despite legal troubles over securities fraud allegations and an FBI investigation for abusing his office to benefit a donor.
“The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,” Paxton boasted in an election night victory speech last November.
Many of the articles of impeachment relate to allegations Paxton had repeatedly abused his powers of office to help a political donor and friend, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul.
Tony Buzbee, an attorney for Paxton, announced in a statement his client would not testify at the impeachment trial. Critics pointed out the statement was released late at night on July 3, right before the July 4 holiday.
“We will not bow to their evil, illegal, and unprecedented weaponization of state power in the Senate chamber,” Buzbee said, referring to the GOP-led House that will conduct the trial.
Cathie Adams, a former chair of the Republican Party of Texas, says she was surprised to learn Paxton has stated he will remain quiet.
“Well, my goodness, wouldn't you want to come to your own defense?” she insists. “So it really is looking very suspect.”
Adams tells AFN the upcoming Senate trial is complicated by Paxton’s wife Angela, a state senator, who has said she will not recuse herself.
Regardless of the outcome, and who is guilty or innocent, Adams says Texans deserve the truth.
“I think that it is owed to every Texan,” she says, “to know what the facts are."
