On the anniversary of his impeachment acquittal, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a pointed statement, condemning what he described as the misuse of political power in his case. Paxton characterized his acquittal as a victory against “the most corrupt forces” within the state.
In 2023, just before the Texas legislative session ended, the Texas House moved swiftly to impeach Paxton. However, months later, the impeachment process fell apart in the Senate, with several whistleblowers conceding they lacked credible evidence.
“On September 16, 2023, I was fully acquitted in an impeachment trial in the Texas Senate, winning an unprecedented battle against the most corrupt forces in the State of Texas,” Paxton declared.
Paxton went on to accuse Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan of orchestrating the impeachment to block him from his duties, claiming that special interests had influenced the decision.
“Dade Phelan’s impeachment hoax stopped me from doing my job, denying Texas voters their right to representation,” Paxton said. “He was bought off by special interests who wanted me out of office.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also criticized Phelan, particularly over the transparency surrounding the impeachment proceedings. According to Patrick, the Texas Senate disclosed a total spending of $435,000 for the trial preparation and process. He claimed Phelan has yet to reveal how much the House spent on the impeachment despite repeated calls for an audit.
“Lobbyists and donors have targeted me since day one because I stood for the voters and brought their concerns directly to the Capitol,” Paxton said. “Their attacks intensified when I transformed the Texas Attorney General’s office into a powerful tool to fight federal overreach and corporate wrongdoing.”
Paxton highlighted his actions in office, including investigations into illegal voting practices, opposing the Biden-Harris administration’s school policies regarding transgender rights, and filing a lawsuit against General Motors for allegedly misusing customer data.
In his closing remarks, Paxton expressed concerns about the larger implications of political persecution, referencing what he sees as the broader weaponization of the legal system against conservative leaders.
“This is the price every elected leader will face if we don’t end the misuse of justice in this country,” Paxton warned, adding that recent political events, including actions against former President Trump, highlight the risks to American democracy. “We must restore the rule of law or risk becoming a third-world nation.”
He concluded with a commitment to representing Texas and defending liberty: “It’s an honor to serve the voters of Texas. I will never back down.”
