The Texas House of Representatives impeached Paxton in May 2023, after allegations that Paxton had made legal decisions to benefit Nate Paul, a real estate developer with whom he shared personal connections, and that he fired whistleblowers for threatening to disclose this information. Angela Paxton attended the impeachment trial but abstained from voting. Angela Paxton attended the impeachment trial but abstained from the vote.
In a
on X, Paxton responded to the impeachment proceedings:
The sham impeachment coordinated by the Biden Administration with liberal House Speaker Dade Phelan and his kangaroo court has cost taxpayers millions of dollars, disrupted the work of the Office of Attorney General and left a dark and permanent stain on the Texas House.
The weaponization of the impeachment process to settle political differences is not only wrong, it is immoral and corrupt…. The weaponization of the impeachment process to settle political differences is not only wrong, it is immoral and corrupt…. You will be held accountable. You will be held accountable.public statementMembers of the Texas Senate also took to X to release statements after the trial results were finalized, both
of the trial and
for impeaching Paxton so close to the end of the legislative session.
Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan released a praising the outcome of his own following the verdict, defending the House’s decision to impeach:criticizing the HouseI extend my utmost thanks to the House Board of Managers and their legal team for their diligent work on this matter, and to each of the 121 House Members who bravely acted in the best interest of this state by voting to advance the articles of impeachment. The decision to impeach was not difficult, but it was difficult. They chose principle over politics, unlike many others. I fully support their decision and acknowledge the sacrifices that they made to do what was right. They allowed Texans to hear the evidence at a public trial as intended by the founding fathers of our great state.