Commentary | Can Paxton Be Removed for Conduct Before the Last Election? – By Bill King (Real Clear Politics) / June 27, 2023
Last month, the Texas House of Representatives impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton. The articles of impeachment, which overwhelmingly passed the Texas House, accuse Paxton of very serious charges, most of which revolve around his relationship with an Austin developer and extraordinary “favors” Paxton did for him in his office. Included in the articles are allegations that the developer received this preferential treatment because he put Paxton’s mistress on his payroll and because the developer did work on Paxton’s home that Paxton did not pay for. Paxton has denied the charges.
Let me begin by saying that if the conduct of which Paxton is accused is proven, he should be impeached. As a lawyer, I find the conduct alleged beyond unprofessional, and a violation of his oath as an attorney and especially as attorney general. If the conduct is proven to be true, he should be impeached and disbarred.
However, whether any of us personally feel he is unfit to be attorney general is not the relevant issue. He should only be impeached if the facts justify impeachment under the applicable law, which in this case is the Texas Constitution.
