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Updates: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Impeachment

  • Vic
  • Jul 17, 2023
  • 4 min read

Updated: Jul 27, 2023


Under the Texas Constitution, the House of Representatives is vested with the power of impeachment and the Senate has the duty to conduct the trial (Article XV, Sections 1 and 2).


On May 27, 2023, the House of Representatives adopted 20 Articles of Impeachment against Warren Kenneth Paxton, Jr., Attorney General of the State of Texas (H.R. No. 2377, 88th Legislature, Regular Session). On May 29, the final day of the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, the House Board of Managers delivered the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. The House Board of Managers are Representatives Murr, chair; A. Johnson, vice chair; Geren; Moody; Canales; Leach; Longoria; Meyer; Cain; Vasut; Spiller; and Gamez. The Senate will convene on September 5, 2023, as a high court of impeachment to consider the Articles of Impeachment (S.R. No. 36, 88th Legislature, 1st Called Session).


These actions follow a series of investigations and allegations of wrongdoing against the AG. More or less at the core of the matter, Paxton requested $3.3 million in state funds to settle a lawsuit by former staffers accusing him of retaliation, which prompted the House General Investigating Committee to investigate the matter. The impeachment process in Texas involves the House conducting impeachment proceedings and the Senate acting as jurors in a trial. If convicted by a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, the attorney general will be permanently removed from office. The impeachment judgment could also prohibit the attorney general from holding any future office in the state.



The following is a timeline and list of documents relevant to the impeachment proceedings:

November 2020

  • Attorney General Paxton's former staffers file a whistleblower lawsuit and accuse him of on-the-job retaliation

February 2023

March 2023

  • The Texas House General Investigating Committee begins investigating the accusations of wrongdoing

May 24, 2023

  • The Texas House General Investigating Committee holds a public hearing for the presentation of the evidence gathered during the committee’s investigative process -- download transcript here

May 25, 2023

  • The Texas House General Investigating Committee votes to adopt the proposed articles of impeachment believing Paxton "broke numerous state laws, misspent office funds and misused his power to benefit a friend and political donor"

May 27, 2023

  • The Texas House of Representatives votes 121-23 to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton -- HR 2377 Articles of Impeachment

  • Paxton is immediately suspended from his position as Attorney General pending a trial in the Texas Senate

May 29, 2023

  • The House Speaker, Dade Phelan, appoints (HR 2547) a board of managers to prosecute Paxton

    • The twelve House members designated as impeachment managers will present the case against Paxton in the Senate chamber

    • Led by Andrew Murr, a West Texas rancher and lawyer, and Ann Johnson, a former prosecutor, the team of 12 includes 11 with law degrees

    • The managers have also retained outside counselors, Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, to serve as the lead prosecutors for the House

  • The Texas Senate adopts Senate Resolution 735 and prepares for the impeachment trial, with senators acting as jurors and the Lt. Governor acting as presiding judge

    • The resolution allows Lieutenant Governor Patrick to name a seven-member committee to devise the trial rules

May 30, 2023

  • It is reported that six top officials and employees at the Texas attorney general’s office have taken a leave of absence to help defend suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton in his impeachment trial:

    • solicitor general Judd Stone, the agency’s top appellate lawyer; assistant solicitors general Joseph N. Mazzara and Kateland Jackson; Chris Hilton, chief of the general litigation division; senior attorney Allison Collins; and executive assistant Jordan Eskew

May 31, 2023

  • Governor Greg Abbott appoints John Scott, former Texas secretary of state, as interim attorney general

June 10, 2023

June 11, 2023

June 15, 2023

June 16, 2023

June 21, 2023

  • The Texas Senate adopts Senate Resolution 35 adopting Rules of Impeachment of Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr., Attorney General of the State of Texas

  • The Texas Senate adopts Senate Resolution 36 ordering Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr., Attorney General of the State of Texas, to appear before the Texas Senate at or before 9:00 a.m. on September 5, 2023

July 6, 2023

July 7, 2023

July 11, 2023

July 12, 2023

  • Lt. Gov. Patrick issues a discovery order mandating that House impeachment managers turn over any potential evidence pertaining to the trial, including witness statements, documents and reports, photos or physical evidence.

  • The House Board of Managers send Notice Regarding Ken Paxton's Recent Motions

July 17, 2023

July 20, 2023

July 21, 2023

  • Ken Paxton's motion to challenge jurors for cause (arguing the court should disqualify Senators José Menéndez, Roland Gutierrez, and Nathan Johnson)

  • House Board of Managers' Notice of receipt of Paxton's motion to challenge jurors

July 25, 2023

  • Ken Paxton's motion to quash articles of impeachment or grant request for bill of particulars (arguing the articles of impeachment leveled against Paxton are too vague to form a legal defense)

  • Ken Paxton's request for bill of particulars (requesting specific details related to each article of impeachment leveled against Paxton)

August 5, 2023

  • Pre-trial motions are due

August 15, 2023

  • Answers to pre-trial motions are due

September 5, 2023

  • The Senate will convene on September 5, 2023, as a high court of impeachment to consider the Articles of Impeachment



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