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Joe Biden sued more than 50 times – and proud of it: Ken Paxton
Photo: Eric Gay / AP
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is facing dismissal on corruption charges. A first vote will take place in the US state's Congress on Saturday. The ultra-conservative Paxton has repeatedly taken legal action against US President Joe Biden's policies and is close to his predecessor Donald Trump. The 60-year-old is controversial in his own party, the result of the parliamentary procedure is completely open.
A parliamentary commission of inquiry on Thursday unanimously decided on 20 charges against Paxton for corruption, misuse of public funds, false testimony and obstruction of justice. The Attorney General is also the Attorney General of Texas. According to the indictment, Paxton put pressure on his associates to protect a friend and financier from prosecution. In return, the financier of an extramarital affair allegedly got Paxton a job and paid for work on Paxton's house, according to the documents.
Members of the Republican-dominated Texas House of Representatives are expected to vote on the allegations after a four-hour debate. With a simple majority, Paxton is suspended for the duration of an investigation by the Senate. If two-thirds of the senators – including Paxton's wife – vote to impeach, he will be permanently removed.
Indicted and re-elected
Paxton's office has sued President Biden's administration nearly 50 times to reverse migration, tax and environmental policies, Paxton told reporters on Friday. In January 2021, he spoke at the rally at the White House, from which incited Trump supporters set out to storm the Capitol, and later filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court against Biden's election victory.
Paxton was named attorney general in Texas in 2014. In 2015, he was charged with financial fraud. Although the process is still ongoing, he was confirmed in office in 2018 and 2022.
sak/AFP