Q: What part of “petty vindictive fuck” and “highly involved in Trump’s MAGA campaign” go together?
A: All of it.
I’m late to this discussion, so maybe this has already been addressed: what’s the REAL reason the Paxton has run afoul of Texas Republicans? From the NYTimes, “…charges that he had used his elected position to benefit himself and a campaign donor.” 
Puh-leese. That’s SOP, hardly a hangin’ offense.
What are we not privy to that is behind this public theater event? Why is he being punished? He must have really pissed off Greg Abbott in some way.
Not that I’m against it. I’d like to see him, Abbott, and Dan Patrick floated out to sea in a basket.
AIUI, seven of his aides accused him of various nefarious activities. Four of them were fired and they sued, alleging they were terminated in retaliation for their whistleblowing. Paxton’s office investigated the lawsuit and concluded that he had done nothing illegal, but he agreed to pay the four 3.3 million bucks of taxpayer’s money to settle. Evidently, using public funds to cover up your misdeeds is a bridge too far, even for the Texas GOP.
Here’s an article from a local magazine, Texas Monthly, that goes into some detail:
I’m not by any means an authority on Texas politics and culture, so I don’t know how many grains of salt with which to take this article. But it is at least a very entertaining read!
I liked “Nihilism is the WD-40 of Texas politics: everything goes down easier if you accept that nothing really changes and nothing really matters.”
You are correct–damn entertaining! The fact that it’s penned within the borders of Texas makes it even more so. Probably from those libruls in Austin, though.
Excellent article. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Texas Monthly. Quotations below are all from the TM article.
This is priceless (and sounds like the source of trump’s so-called management style):
To paraphrase Mao: everything under the dome is in chaos; the situation is excellent.
Also,
One of the problems of writing about Paxton is that there’s never quite enough space to lay out all the things he’s alleged to have done wrong.
As @Railer13 said above:
Paxton asked for taxpayer money to pay off whistleblowers he had illegally fired to cover up other illegal activity. On Friday, the House committee conducting the investigation released a statement in which it underlined the connection. “We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement . . . Paxton would not be facing impeachment.”
Kenny must have been real surprised…
Paxton was asked by a conservative radio host what he thought about the news. Paxton affected an air of wounded surprise. “I have no idea why they’ve chosen to do this,” he said.
and the unspoken part, “'cause up to now, I could do whatever I wanted!”
Who defended Kenny? Well, pretty much no one. The ones who opposed impeachement criticized the process but did not rush to Ken’s side. I thought Republicans stood firmly for morality and The Good Book?
State representative Tony Tinderholt, a Republican from Arlington, is typically very sure of himself—the kind of fellow who has repeatedly offered bills to subject women who have abortions to the death penalty. But during the House debate, he suddenly sounded like a mid-tier psychonaut at a Phish concert. “I believe perception is truth to the person that perceives,” he said. Pass the blunt, space cowboy!
The downside for Democrats is that if Paxton is permanently removed, Abbott will appoint someone just as rigidly conservative but with his head screwed on straight.
In Texas it’s one thing to be corrupt: to be corrupt and useless is another matter. If anything, the state’s Democrats may look back with fondness on the Paxton era.
You mean The Art Of The Deal?
The Texas Senate is set to convene on June 20th to consider rules for the Paxton trial, and the trial itself is to start no later than August 28. No word yet on whether/whom Abbott may appoint as an interim AG.
The reason it took so long is that they kept confusing him with Ken Pullman.
Even Homer knows the difference.
Nate Paul, the donor at the heart of most of the charges against Paxton, was arrested in Austin this evening. He’s apparently being held at the request of the FBI. Shit getting real . . .
Whaaattt? This has certainly been buried in the avalanche of news and commentary of the past 3 or 4 hours. The FBI is involved. Hmmn. Interesting. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Paul was arraigned today, and it appears that none of the charges directly relate to this relationship with Paxton. He’s being indicted on charges mostly relating to lying about his financial assets in order to secure loans from banks. However, separately the feds are also known to be investigating Paxton for abuse of office over his efforts to help Paul – I can’t imagine it will be hard to cut a deal with Paul for his testimony, especially given how haggard he looks in his booking photo.
That is the look of a man who thought he’d outsmarted the world. And has just learned otherwise. Oops. Sux to be you. Deserved so, but it still sux.
He’s only 36. I guess that’s what years of booze, coke and trying to stay a step ahead of your creditors and the feds will do to you.
Honestly I think he kinda looks like Joey Buttafuoco.
Maybe it’s just me.
The “outsmarted the world” came more from his earlier before picture. The mugshot is the “and learned otherwise” pic.
Agree about the resemblance to Butafuocco. Which is another way of saying you’re looking at a defiant selfish psycho who’s also a fairly burly guy. It’s a common look.
Coming soon…Jack Black is Ken Paxton. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, etc.
I would have said De Niro minus a few years.