Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized the impeachment attempt against Tucker Carlson in an interview with him published Wednesday.
Paxton claimed the impeachment in which he was acquitted was “politically” motivated. The Republican-controlled Texas House voted 121-23 to impeach him on charges of bribery and using power to benefit wealthy donor Nate Paul.
“It wasn’t just a legal issue; it became completely political,” Paxton said.
Carlson noted that while Paxton is known as the Biden administration’s chief “legal opponent,” it was the Texas Republican Party that sought to remove him from his post as attorney general. (Related article: ‘There’s no evidence’: Lawyers for impeached Republican AG seek dismissal of nearly all charges against him)
“Oh, that’s what it looks like,” Paxton said.
Episode 25 liberals like Karl Rove just tried to eliminate Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. It didn’t work. Paxton just participated in his first interview since his acquittal. pic.twitter.com/SAJGNN5LXW
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) September 21, 2023
He said that although Texas is considered a conservative state, there is a very significant Democratic minority in the Texas House of Representatives that always votes in “blocs.” He said this would give Democrats greater leverage in selecting Republican speakers, for example. Paxton said the state House of Representatives is controlled by liberals, which blocks many conservative policies.
“Wait, so does that mean even if we have a majority in the Texas House, we can’t control the Texas House?” Carlson asked.
“It’s crazy,” Paxton said.
“The speakers are controlled by Democrats,” Paxton added.
He claimed that two of the lawyers ordered to investigate him by the Texas House of Representatives were “from the Biden Justice Department.”
“It wasn’t an accident, they were sent there,” he said.
Carlson noted that Paxton has filed a number of lawsuits against the Biden administration and asked if he thought they were behind the effort to remove Paxton from the administration. Paxton agreed. He said he had caused a great deal of “inconvenience” to the Biden administration and effectively “delayed the administration” even in cases he did not win. He said he has won about 77% of his lawsuits against the Biden administration, making him a “huge problem.”
Paxton said he was blindsided by the impeachment process and had “no idea” it was happening. He said the Texas House Investigative Committee spent just one day deliberating his own impeachment. But he said a “secret” investigation into him had been going on for three months, with “no transparency” and “no due process” and that most people were unaware.
He said he was suspended following reports of impeachment proceedings. He claimed he has been forced out of office and unable to pursue further litigation against the Biden administration. He lamented that he spent about half of his term away from public office and said many staff members had left.
“They did a tremendous amount of damage to the state of Texas this way,” Paxton said.
Texas senators voted to acquit Paxton at his impeachment trial on September 16th. Paxton has pleaded not guilty to 16 people. article Impeachment charges on the first day of trial.former president donald trump defended Paxton spoke to Truth Social ahead of the impeachment trial.
“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was easily re-elected last November, but now establishment RINOS are trying to undo that election by disgracefully impeaching him. Who will replace Paxton, one of the better attorneys general? Could it be a Democrat, or worse, a RINO? Voters have decided who they want! Democrats are now always It feels so good to see Republicans fighting and eating each other up like this. Today is a sad day in Texas!” Trump wrote.
