Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has made a bold move to fight back against the articles of impeachment brought against him. Paxton’s attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the majority of the allegations, arguing that he cannot be tried for actions that occurred before his current term.
The attorneys are citing the “prior-term doctrine” rule as their defense. They claim that Paxton should not be held accountable for alleged misconduct that took place prior to January 2023, when he began his third term as attorney general.
This motion comes after Paxton was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives in May. The House accused him of various acts of misconduct, leading to an ongoing FBI investigation for abuse of office.
Paxton’s legal team has also requested that any evidence of alleged conduct prior to January 2023 be excluded from the trial. They argue that these allegations are unsupported and irrelevant to the impeachment process.
The attorneys further contend that the evidence against Paxton is not as compelling as originally proclaimed by the House Managers. They are confident that they can dismantle the case against their client.
In the meantime, former Texas Secretary of State John Scott has been appointed as a temporary replacement for Paxton by Governor Greg Abbott. Scott will serve until the impeachment trial is completed.
Paxton’s impeachment trial is scheduled to take place on September 5th. The lieutenant governor will serve as the judge, while senators will act as jurors.
Paxton, known for his conservative stance and close alignment with former President Donald Trump, has not been without controversy. Aside from the impeachment proceedings, he is also under indictment for securities fraud in a separate case, which he vehemently denies.
Despite the mounting legal challenges, Paxton has continued to make headlines by bringing numerous cases against the Biden administration. His fight for conservative causes has remained at the forefront of his agenda.
As the date for Paxton’s impeachment trial approaches, all eyes will be on the proceedings. The outcome will have significant implications for the future of Texas politics and Paxton’s career.
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