Texas AG claims speaker was drunk after investigation was revealed
Attorney General Ken Paxton claims the House Speaker presided over the chamber while intoxicated.
LEARN MOREMay 25, 2023
A House investigative committee in Texas' state legislature issued 20 articles of impeachment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday.
The articles allege Paxton committed crimes while in office, including bribery and abuse of public trust.
The committee conducted a months-long investigation into allegations that Paxton attempted to hide an affair, misused official information, and abused official powers.
House Republicans made the inquiry public Wednesday, prompting an exchange of high-profile allegations in which Paxton accused Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan of being drunk while he presided over the session.
Paxton has dismissed the accusations against him as politically motivated and called for Phelan to resign.
Paxton is already under investigation by the Justice Department for alleged corrupt activity.
Separately, he was indicted in 2015 on felony charges of securities fraud and failing to register with the state securities board. The charges stem from the time Paxton spent as a State representative, before he was elected as AG. He has yet to stand trial.
The Texas House could vote to move forward under the board's articles of impeachment as soon as Friday. If a vote to impeach passes with a two-thirds majority of the state's 150 representatives, Paxton would be removed from office effective immediately, pending a trial in the state Senate.
Only two state officials have ever been impeached in Texas history.
