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Provisionally impeached: Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General

Photo: ELIZABETH FRANTZ / REUTERS

Republican Attorney General and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is indicted on corruption charges and provisionally removed from office. The majority Republican parliament of the U.S. state voted on Saturday with a clear majority for a so-called impeachment. Until the Senate hearing, Paxton must leave office.

In the vote after several hours of debate, 121 MPs voted in favour of Paxton's dismissal, 23 against, and two abstained. The result marks the surprising overthrow of an ardent supporter of ex-President Donald Trump.

"The evidence is considerable. It's alarming," said Republican Rep. Andrew Murr. "What we have just seen is illegal, unethical and deeply unjust," Paxton posted on Twitter. In an attached statement, he called the trial against him an "ugly spectacle" that the Senate would quickly end "in a fair and just trial":

Trump declared on his own online platform, Truth Social, that those who voted for Paxton's impeachment were "radical left-wing Democrats" and so-called RINOs – Republicans in name only. The ultra-conservative Paxton had repeatedly taken legal action against the policies of US President Joe Biden.

Corruption, misuse of public funds, false testimony and obstruction of justice

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.

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.

It was initially unclear when the majority Republican Senate will put him on trial. A two-thirds majority is required for Paxton's permanent impeachment.

The outcome of the procedure is completely open. However, support for the 60-year-old has recently shrunk even within his own Republican Party. Even Texas Governor Greg Abbott refused to back him before the vote. Abbott, also a Trump supporter, must now provisionally appoint a representative for Paxton.

Fifty times Paxton sued US President Biden

Ken Paxton had pointed out on Friday that his office had sued the administration of US President Biden almost 50 times to reverse migration, tax and environmental policies.

He was appointed Attorney General and 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.

In 2020, members of his team had pointed out his abuse of power. They were fired and later filed a lawsuit against their wrongful dismissal. Earlier this year, Paxton settled this lawsuit by paying $3.3 million (€3 million). That he asked the state of Texas to settle the bill eventually led to the formation of an investigative committee in Congress and a vote on his removal.

oka/AFP