Paxton trial updates: Senators begin second day of deliberations on 16 impeachment articles
By Texas Tribune Staff, The Texas Tribune
“Paxton trial updates: Senators begin second day of deliberations on 16 impeachment articles” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
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Texas Senators are expected to resume deliberations in Attorney General Ken Paxton‘s impeachment trial at 9 a.m. Saturday. They deliberated 16 articles of impeachment for several hours Friday, but left the Capitol without a verdict. Paxton is accused of misusing the powers of the attorney general’s office to help his friend and donor Nate Paul, an Austin real estate investor who was under federal investigation.
The House impeachment managers insisted that they proved their claims of bribery and corruption, arguing that the jury of 30 senators had no choice but to convict. Paxton’s defense team said the case was full of holes, circumstantial evidence and misdirection.
If 21 of 30 eligible senators convict Paxton on any of the 16 articles of impeachment, he is automatically removed from office and there will be a subsequent vote on whether to permanently bar him from seeking state office. Sen. Angela Paxton, the attorney general’s wife, was prohibited from participating in deliberations or voting.
Senators ended first day of deliberations without a verdict
Senators left the Capitol late Saturday after more than six hours of deliberating in the impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton without reaching a final verdict.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had told senators this afternoon to deliberate until at least 8 p.m. They are expected to return Saturday at 9 a.m. to continue deliberations.
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This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/16/ken-paxton-impeachment-vote-deliberations/.
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