The State of Texas House could see its first impeachment proceedings in nearly 50 years, as the House Committee on General Investigating unanimously voted to refer articles of impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Paxton has been under FBI investigation for years over accusations that he used his office to help a donor. He was separately indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, but has yet to stand trial.
This comes one day after a hearing in which the committee heard testimony from a group of four investigators secretly appointed by the committee back in March. The announcement also comes days after Paxton called for Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign for appearing to be intoxicated at the Speaker's podium last weekend.
The House could vote on these articles this weekend. If they vote to impeach, Paxton will have to leave office immediately.
In a statement on Thursday, Paxton said, "“It's is a sad day for Texas as we witness the corrupt political establishment unite in this illegitimate attempt to overthrow the will of the people and disenfranchise the voters of our state.” Paxton called the committee’s findings “hearsay and gossip, parroting long-disproven claims.”