# Ken Paxton, Texas AG, facing impeachment from fellow Republicans (is impeached on May 27, 2023) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 26, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608 "2023-05-26T01:24:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/61 "2023-06-21T02:41:03Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Not sure if any of the linked articles mentioned this tidbit, but Ken Paxton’s wife, Angela, is a member of the Texas Senate. > > In true GOP fashion, she will probably not recuse herself from the trial in the Senate. Winner winner chicken dinner! > **[State Sen. Angela Paxton will “carry out my duty” and attend her husband’s...](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/19/exas-angela-paxton-ken-paxton/)** > > Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton faces charges of bribery and obstruction of justice in his upcoming impeachment trial before the Texas Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/62 "2023-06-21T02:57:21Z")
She’s so brave. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/63 "2023-06-21T03:27:24Z")
It’s a C&W song in the making! ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/64 "2023-06-21T13:09:09Z")
Wouldn’t the kicker be if she voted against him? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/65 "2023-06-21T13:41:36Z")
> [@Daithi\_Lacha](#): > > f she voted against him? Given her reputation as the actual brains behind the outfit, it would be a case of “you have failed me for the last time.” (Force choke-out optional.) ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/66 "2023-06-21T15:33:12Z")
She was his getaway driver when he fled his home to avoid being served with a subpoena. She’s ride or die for Ken Paxton, no matter how egregious or personally embarrassing his behavior may be. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/67 "2023-06-21T17:43:42Z")
Well-p, so much for my schadenfreude fantasies. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/68 "2023-06-22T01:33:22Z")
The Texas Senate just adopted the rules for the conduct of the impeachment trial by a vote of 25-3. Nothing’s public yet, but the rumor is the rules will force Angela Paxton to recuse herself from voting on the impeachment. The trial will begin on September 5. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/69 "2023-06-22T09:15:19Z")
> **[Texas Sen. Angela Paxton barred from voting in husband’s impeachment trial](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/san-antonio/news/2023/06/22/texas-sen--angela-paxton-barred-from-voting-in-husband-s-impeachment-trial)** > > The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 5 Seems to be official. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2023, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/70 "2023-06-22T11:47:34Z")
Yep. Angela Paxton will be allowed to attend, but she cannot deliberate with the Senate in closed session or vote. All-in-all, it looks like this will be a fair process. The House managers and Paxton will be able to call witnesses, who will be questioned publicly. The Senate will deliberate in closed session, then vote on the charges without debate or comment (although they can provide statements later that will be included in the record). It’s telling that the vote to adopt these rules was overwhelmingly bipartisan, and the three “no” votes came from a very liberal Senator, a very conservative Senator, and Angela Paxton herself. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/71 "2023-06-23T03:57:04Z")
BWA-ha-ha-ha-ha ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/72 "2023-06-26T12:16:05Z")
Show of hands if anyone is surprised at this… 🙄 > **[Despite promise of “total transparency,” secrecy will be a big part of Ken...](https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/23/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-secrecy-texas/)** > > From deliberations to documents, the Texas Senate’s rules create an opaque process for the suspended attorney general’s impeachment trial, set to begin Sept. 5. > Lt. Gov. [Dan Patrick](https://www.texastribune.org/directory/dan-patrick/) has promised maximum transparency in the impeachment trial for suspended Attorney General [Ken Paxton](https://www.texastribune.org/directory/ken-paxton/), but trial rules recently adopted by the Texas Senate came after an opaque process — and provide for **plenty of secrecy** going forward. > > Any pretrial motions, including requests from Paxton’s legal team to toss out articles of impeachment, will be kept **confidential**. > > A special committee of senators will review each pretrial motion behind closed doors and issue written recommendations for how it should be addressed, but those recommendations are to remain **confidential** as well. > > … > > Even the witness list that each side must file before Aug. 22 will be **kept from the public.** > > … > > The Senate approved the rules **without public debate** Wednesday night, following two days of **closed-door deliberations** over them. That came after a rule-making committee worked in **secret** for three weeks, drafting proposed rules **without telling the public when and where they were meeting.** > … My bold. To quote the previous poster: > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > BWA-ha-ha-ha-ha ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/73 "2023-06-26T12:20:32Z")
He promised _maximum_ transparency, not _total_ transparency. Obviously, the maximum he can provide is very, very little. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/74 "2023-06-26T12:51:41Z")
Maximum transparency, so you can see all the murkiness. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/75 "2023-06-26T13:45:02Z")
Sounds like they don’t want Paxton spilling the beans on all the dirty secrets he’s got on them all. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/76 "2023-06-26T14:03:32Z")
Translucent. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/77 "2023-06-26T16:05:50Z")
In politics, the less you plan to do about something, the more you must talk about it. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/78 "2023-06-26T18:54:13Z")
I can understand the witness list being confidential, but the rest? Naw. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/79 "2023-06-28T11:29:14Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Angela Paxton will be allowed to attend, but she cannot deliberate with the Senate in closed session or vote. However, she WILL be counted as being present, which means instead of 20 (out of 29) votes to convict, they’ll need 21 (out of 30). So effectively, she’s a defacto “no” vote. Which is bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608/80 "2023-06-28T13:43:36Z")
I have some sympathy with the rules writers here, because state law says that all Senators shall attend an impeachment court. You can’t really pretend like she isn’t there. Ultimately, though, regardless of what official rules are adopted, the outcome of this trial will be decided by one person – Dan Patrick. He rules the Senate with an iron fist, and Republican Senators (and frankly, many of the Democrats) have been rendered completely subservient to his wishes. It’s not clear to me where Patrick will come down on this. On one hand, the Republican base – with whom he is usually closely aligned – strongly believe this impeachment is a huge injustice. On the other hand, Patrick is feuding with Greg Abbott in unusually personal terms right now over property tax cuts, and I could see him pushing Paxton’s removal just to show Abbott that he can and will remove a fellow Republican from office if he wants to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-paxton-texas-ag-facing-impeachment-from-fellow-republicans-is-impeached-on-may-27-2023/984608.md?page=5)