The jury had to get 21 votes to confirm the impeachment, but they did not get a two-thirds majority.
After being cleared of state impeachment charges on Saturday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a harsh letter to the White House.
A group of Texas state representatives from both parties accused Paxton of being crooked, taking bribes, and not being fit for office. Paxton is a Republican. All 12 Democrats and two Republicans (Senators Robert Nichols and Kelly Hancock) on the jury decided to impeach him.
The attorney general was accused of misusing his political power to hire Nate Paul, a real estate developer who worked with Paxton’s claimed lover Laura Olson. In June, Paul was charged with making fake claims to banks.
Paxton was also accused of not doing his job, getting back at former employees who told authorities about his alleged wrongdoing, and making false statements about whistleblowing claims from former employees.
The jury had to reach a two-thirds majority, or 21 votes, to approve the impeachment. This was not done. Saturday, the vote was over just before 1 p.m.
“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 the Attorney General, and left a dark and permanent stain on the Texas House,” Paxton wrote in his letter.
“Using the impeachment process as a weapon to settle political disputes is not only wrong, but also immoral and corrupt,” the troubled attorney general said.
Paxton then said that the White House was pushing “lawless policies” and promised that President Biden would be “held accountable.”
“Finally, I can promise the Biden Administration this: buckle up because your lawless policies will not go unchallenged,” the message said. “We won’t let you tear up the constitution or take away the rights of Texans,” they said. You’ll have to answer for what you did.”