State leaders react to Paxton's acquittal in impeachment trial
AUSTIN (CBSNewsTexas.com) - "Attorney General, Kenneth Warren Paxton Junior, is hereby, at this moment, reinstated to office," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said following the conclusion of the historic impeachment trial of Ken Paxton.
Senators voted to acquit Paxton on all articles of impeachment, which means the suspended attorney general will be returned to office.
Senators voted to drop the other four impeachment articles against Paxton.
"Ken Paxton is the most corrupt politician in the state of Texas at this time and the Republican in the Senate returned him to the job of top cop," said Ann Johnson (D-Houston), vice chair of the House General Investigating Committee.
"Today, the truth prevailed," Paxton said. "The truth could not be buried by mudslinging politicians or their powerful benefactors. I've said many times: Seek the truth! And that is what was accomplished."
"The Speaker and his team rammed through the first impeachment of a statewide official in Texas in over 100 years while paying no attention to the precedent that the House set in every other impeachment before," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said.
"The jury has spoken," said Gov. Abbott. "Attorney General Paxton received a fair trial as required by the Texas Constitution."
"I'm going to call for a full audit of all taxpayer money spent by the House from the beginning of their investigation in March to the final bill they get from their lawyers," Patrick said.
"Our founders expected better," said Patrick. "It should never have happened this year and hopefully, it doesn't happen again unless we address it in the Constitution."
Speaker Dade Phelan after the Senate clears Attorney General Ken Paxton of all impeachment charges.
The former president also weighed in on the acquittal on his own social media app, Truth Social.
Paxton also thanked his wife, Sen. Angela Paxton.
Attorney Rusty Hardin released the following statement on the outcome of the impeachment trial:
"I want to praise the Texas House of Representatives and their appointed House managers for having the courage to bring this case and to show the people of Texas the multiple instances of misconduct and the attorney general's abuse of his office.
When the House voted in a bipartisan way to recommend impeachment to the Senate, they made a non-political decision in a highly charged political atmosphere. They put party above politics and earned our well-deserved respect.
The House managers, through their lawyers, presented an overwhelming factual case of wrongdoing and abuse of office. Mr. Paxton, who so loudly claimed he was unaware of the evidence against him, chose not to attend his own trial.
If this were a regular jury trial, Mr. Paxton would have been convicted without hesitation. But this wasn't a regular jury trial, it was a political trial.
Today's vote ignores an extraordinary trail of misconduct, all factually proven. The senators chose to ignore all that evidence and return the attorney general to office.
We can't change the outcome, but we can continue to praise the whistleblowers who had the courage to come forward. They are not only victims, but also heroes. Our heartfelt thanks go out to them and to the House and its board of managers who had the courage to come forward with this evidence at great political and personal risk."
Two days later, Paxton's wife, Sen. Angela Paxton released a statement on her husband's acquittal. Sen. Paxton, who was present for the entire trial, said had she been allowed to vote, she would have voted to acquit.
She also said she was grateful for the support and encouragement she received over the past several months and looks forward to getting back to work.
