GOP-controlled Texas House votes to impeach Trump ally Ken Paxton 121-23

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The GOP-controlled Texas House voted 121-23 to adopt 20 articles of impeachment against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton Saturday afternoon.

"I am beyond grateful to have the support of millions of Texans who recognize that what we just witnessed is illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust," Paxton wrote in a tweet shortly after the vote, also appending a longer statement.

"I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just."

\u201cI am beyond grateful to have the support of millions of Texans who recognize that what we just witnessed is illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust. I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just.\u201d
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@Attorney General Ken Paxton) 1685224547

Today's proceedings stemmed from an investigation targeting the three-term official's request for $3.3 million to pay a settlement to former employees who accused him of wrongdoing. The fired employees accused him of using his office to benefit a campaign donor, Nate Paul, as TheBlaze reported.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called Texas' top law enforcement officer "the strongest conservative AG in the country" in a series of tweets defending Paxton prior to Saturday's vote.

"No attorney general has battled the abuses of the Biden admin more ferociously — and more effectively — than has Paxton," Sen. Cruz wrote.

According to Cruz it should be left to the courts to sort out Paxton's "legal challenges." In his view, legislators should "respect the choice of the Texas voters" since "virtually all" of the information in the articles of impeachment were public prior to voters reelecting him.

\u201c1/x What is happening to @KenPaxtonTX is a travesty.\u00a0\n\nFor the last nine years, Ken has been the strongest conservative AG in the country. Bar none. No attorney general has battled the abuses of the Biden admin more ferociously\u2014and more effectively\u2014than has Paxton.\u201d
— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz) 1685202723

Former President Trump defended Paxton and criticized Texas Republican Speaker of the House Dade Phelan (R) in a series of posts on Truth Social.

Trump called Phelan "barely a Republican" who "failed the test on voter integrity."

He praised Paxton as "one of the most hard working and effective" attorneys general in the state.

Prior to the vote, Trump vowed to "fight" Republicans in the Texas House who allowed the process to move forward.



Today's impeachment was the first of its kind since 1975, according to the Texas Tribune. The referral to the Senate includes charges of bribery, abuse of office, and obstruction.

In the Senate trial, senators serve as jurors while House members will present the case as impeachment managers, the outlet also explained. Paxton's permanent removal and ban from holding future office would require the support of two-thirds of senators.

According to Texas state law, Paxton must step aside from his duties while he awaits a trial in the Senate.
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Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton to face impeachment vote in GOP-controlled House

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, will face an impeachment vote in the Lone Star State's GOP-controlled House Saturday, multiple outlets reported.

Paxton criticized the measure ahead of the vote in a press conference Friday afternoon, calling the efforts "illegal" and a "scheme to overturn a decision made by Texas voters," the Center Square reported.

"They are determined to ignore the law. They have denied me the opportunity to present the evidence, which contradicts their politically motivated narrative, and they are showcasing their absolute contempt for the electoral process," AG Paxton said in the press conference.

Paxton encouraged people to peacefully protest the proceedings.

"I want to invite my fellow citizens and friends to peacefully come let their voices be heard at the Capitol tomorrow ... Exercise your right. Petition your government," Paxton also said.

The law would require Paxton step aside from his position if he were to be impeached, according to the New York Post.

An investigative group working for the Texas House alleges Paxton used his office to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. The group says Paul donated $25,000 to Paxton's campaign, as NPR station KUT reported.

"To be negligent is just one thing," investigator Donna Cameron told the Texas House General Investigative Committee.

"But malfeasance is when you are actively and intentionally doing things to the detriment of the office and to your oath and to the responsibility that you have to the state of Texas and the public."

The conclusion of their months' long investigation was that Paxton allegedly committed multiple violations of the law. The investigation stemmed from Paxton asking lawmakers in Texas for $3.3 million to settle a suit brought by four former employees who accused Paxton of wrongdoing with respect to Paul.

The report indicates Paxton was allegedly "forcing staff to change a ruling on COVID-19 restrictions to benefit Paul and hired an outside attorney to serve as a special prosecutor and fight federal law enforcement on Paul's behalf," NPR reported.

Paxton called legislators' actions "deceitful," saying the credibility of the Texas House would sustain lasting damage for their actions.

The Texas House "is poised to do exactly what [President] Biden as been hoping to accomplish since his first day in office — sabotage our work, my work, as Attorney General of Texas."

Watch Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) interview Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) Friday ahead of an impeachment hearing in the Texas House scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

\u201cTexas Attorney General @KenPaxtonTX Sounds the Alarm on @NEWSMAX \ud83d\udea8\n\n@MattGaetz: \u201cAre you confident that you have the votes to block an impeachment by the Texas State House?\u201d \n\n@TXAG Ken Paxton: \u201cNo. They thought I was going to lose my election to Bush, and they became very\u2026\u201d
— Joel Valdez (@Joel Valdez) 1685158984

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Records show top US biosafety expert urged counterpart in Wuhan to answer crucial questions on COVID-19 origins



A top American biosafety expert with close ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology urged Chinese scientists in early 2020 to begin an "investigation" into whether COVID-19 could have been leaked from the institute, emails reveal.

Emails published by the nonprofit investigative group U.S. Right to Know show that Dr. James LeDuc, a professor and former director of Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch, encouraged his Chinese colleagues to be transparent and prepare to answer questions about their work to address speculation that the SARS-CoV-2 virus came from the Wuhan lab.

LeDuc is a renowned expert on biosafety with years of experience operating a biosafety level 4 laboratory — the highest safety level designation, reserved for labs that work with the most dangerous pathogens, like the Ebola or Marburg viruses. His lab in Galveston has worked with China since at least 2013, when construction on the Wuhan lab began, and he has made several trips to Wuhan to train staff since at least 1986. LeDuc's Galveston lab also hosted two Chinese post-doctoral students, who were trained to work safely in BSL-4 facilities and who returned to China to work in the Wuhan lab.

In early 2020, after the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was traced to a seafood market in Wuhan, China, many speculated that the nearby Wuhan Institute of Virology and its coronavirus research may have been connected to the origins of the virus.

In a Feb. 9, 2020, email to Wuhan Institute Professor Yuan Zhiming, previously the director of the WIV BSL-4 laboratory, LeDuc asked the Chinese scientist to "aggressively address these rumors and presumably false accusations quickly and provide definitive, honest information to counter misinformation."

“If there are weaknesses in your program, now is the time to admit them and get them corrected. I trust that you will take my suggestions in the spirit of one friend trying to help another during a very difficult time,” he wrote.

2/9/20 email from @utmbhealth James Le Duc to Wuhan Institute of Virology's Yuan Zhiming calling for an "Investigation into the possibility that the nCoV was the result of a release from the Wuhan Institute of Virology" \nhttps://usrtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Le-Duc_Yuan_Email-and-Investigation-List.pdf\u00a0\u2026pic.twitter.com/tGEeQ36vof
— Gary Ruskin (@Gary Ruskin) 1638478013

LeDuc and Yuan are colleagues who in 2018 co-authored an article in Science magazine that urged the construction of new maximum biocontainment laboratories to fight dangerous diseases. In the article, they discussed their "partnership" and wrote that they had "engaged in short- and long-term personnel exchanges focused on biosafety training, building operations and maintenance, and collaborative scientific investigations in biocontainment."

In his email to Yuan, LeDuc posed a series of questions he believed the Wuhan Institute of Virology needed to answer as part of an investigation into whether COVID-19 was "the result of a release from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (main campus or new BSL3/BSL4 facilities)."

"Where is coronavirus research conducted? What level of biocontainment?" was one question.

"What are the coronaviruses in your possession that are most closely related to nCoV [novel coronaviruses] based on genetic sequences and are able to replicate in culture?" was another.

"Is anyone on your team conducting gain of function studies, recombination studies or any other studies that may have resulted in the creation of the nCoV ?" asked a third.

These and many other questions asked by LeDuc in Feb. 2020 about the possibility that COVID-19 was engineered or found in nature, collected by the lab, and then accidentally released were not answered and remain unanswered today.

LeDuc did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

World Health Organization-led investigations into COVID-19's origins have been stonewalled by China, and a U.S. intelligence report on the origins of the virus presented by President Joe Biden in August was inconclusive because of a lack of transparency from the Chinese government.

China has even frustrated U.S. Right to Know's attempts at an independent investigation. So have American universities and federal agencies.

LeDuc's emails were obtained by the group with a public records request through the Texas Public Information Act that was made on July 3, 2020. The University of Texas Medical Branch did not produce the requested documents until Nov. 23, 2021, more than 16 months later. USRTK said a second TPIA request filed with the university system on Sept. 23, 2020, also remains unanswered 14 months later.

On Nov. 15, 2021, UTMB sent a letter to the Texas attorney general's office asking to withhold certain requested documents because of outside "third parties" that objected to their release.

"We have notified the affected third parties of the request and sent notice to advise them of their opportunity to object to the release of their documents (TAB 4). The third parties have not agreed to the release of the information at issue," the letter states.

The state-run @utmbhealth in Texas is asking AG @KenPaxtonTX's office to withhold documents related to the Wuhan Institute of Virology because outside "third-parties" object. One of those third parties is a top Wuhan lab official. #txlege #transparencyhttps://twitter.com/garyruskin/status/1460680541930360836\u00a0\u2026
— Jay Root (@Jay Root) 1637098199

One of the "third parties" listed is none other than Dr. Yuan Zhiming, who now works for the state-controlled Chinese Academy of Sciences in addition to his association with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Gary Ruskin, the executive director for U.S. Right to Know, called the interference from the Wuhan institute "outrageous."

"It is outrageous that the Wuhan Institute of Virology should be allowed to block the release of documents under the Texas Public Information Act related to the origins of #COVID19," he tweeted on Nov. 16.

It is outrageous that the Wuhan Institute of Virology should be allowed to block the release of documents under the Texas Public Information Act related to the origins of #COVID19. Why is @utsystem abetting the WIV in choking off transparency? https://usrtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/University-of-Texas-letter-111521.pdf\u00a0\u2026https://twitter.com/garyruskin/status/1460680783253807104\u00a0\u2026
— Gary Ruskin (@Gary Ruskin) 1637088527

"Why is @utsystem abetting the WIV in choking off transparency?" he asked.

In an email to TheBlaze, Ruskin said, "It's been quite a challenge to pry information about the origins of Covid-19 out of the clenched fingers of various federal agencies and universities across the world."

He noted that USRTK has filed eight FOIA lawsuits to force various government agencies to hand over documents and said "more are probably coming."


Biden admin sues Texas to block parts of state's election integrity bill. Texas AG fires back: 'See you in court'



President Joe Biden's Justice Department on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas seeking to block portions of the state's newly enacted election integrity law, claiming the measures unconstitutionally disenfranchise voters in the state.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday, the Justice Department takes issue with two provisions in the law, one which requires ID numbers to be included with mail-in ballots and another that limits certain kinds of assistance that voters can receive while in the polling booth, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The department claims that the aforementioned provisions violate different sections of the Voting Rights Act by placing unlawful restrictions on voters, including those "with limited English proficiency [or] disabilities, elderly voters, members of the military deployed away from home, and American citizens residing outside of the country."

"Our democracy depends on the right of eligible voters to cast a ballot and to have that ballot counted," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement accompanying the lawsuit. "The Justice Department will continue to use all the authorities at its disposal to protect this fundamental pillar of our society."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, responded to the news on Twitter, saying, "I will see you in court, Biden!"

"Biden is coming after Texas for SB1, our recently enacted election integrity law. It's a great and a much-needed bill. Ensuring Texas has safe, secure, and transparent elections is a top priority of mine," Paxton said.

Biden is coming after Texas for SB1, our recently enacted election integrity law. It\u2019s a great and a much-needed bill. Ensuring Texas has safe, secure, and transparent elections is a top priority of mine. I will see you in court, Biden! #ElectionIntegrityhttps://twitter.com/thejusticedept/status/1456364545027579908\u00a0\u2026

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) 1636061893

The highly politicized legislation, known as Senate Bill 8, was only recently implemented in the state. It became the subject of national attention after Democratic state lawmakers fled to Washington, D.C., in a publicity stunt attempt to force the bill's failure.

Eventually, in September, the runaway Democrats returned home defeated and Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law.

Texas Republicans drew up the legislation with the intentions of securing the state's voting systems and bolstering confidence in its elections as a response to the 2020 presidential election, which featured widespread use of mail-in ballots, and drive-through and drop-box voting as a means to facilitate voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many Americans felt that the lax measures opened the election up to fraud.

At the bill's signing ceremony, Abbott said, "One thing that all Texans can agree [on] and that is that we must have trust and confidence in our elections. The bill that I'm about to sign helps to achieve that goal. The law does however make it harder for fraudulent votes to be cast."

Texas abortion law allowed to resume after appeals court ruling



The Texas law that prohibits conducting abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected will go back into effect thanks to the issuance of a temporary stay by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The move came after U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman on Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order against the law. Pitman, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, had written that "this Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right."

"Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8. I will fight federal overreach at every turn," tweeted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8. I will fight federal overreach at… https://t.co/ymNItmrMW7

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) 1633745077.0

Due to the appeals court's move, the Lone Star State law is reinstated pending additional legal actions, according to Fox News.

The law prohibits conducting abortions once an unborn child's heartbeat has been detected, though there is an exception in the case of medical emergencies.

People can lodge civil actions against violators, and the law stipulates that if a claimant prevails, the court should award at least $10,000 in statutory damages.

The legislation, which took effect in September, has sparked significant national controversy. While it marks a clear victory for the pro-life movement, abortion proponents have decried the law.

Pro-life advocate Lila Rose, the founder and president of Live Action, cheered the news Friday night and tweeted, "The heartbeat law was saving an estimated 100 lives every day."

Truly amazing news. The heartbeat law was saving an estimated 100 lives every day.

— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) 1633746907.0

Texas AG Ken Paxton says he is suing Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who defied ban on mask mandates



Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday that he is suing to enforce Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on mask mandates after a Dallas County judge removed an elected Republican commissioner from a commissioner's court meeting because he was not wearing a mask.

On Monday, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins asked a district court to declare Abbott's ban on mask mandates unconstitutional, insisting that the governor overstepped by signing an executive order in May that prohibits government entities, including schools, from implementing mask mandates.

Jenkins, who is the presiding officer of the commissioners court and has responsibilities of a county administrator and not a courtroom judge, wants to require face masks in commissioners' court. Last week, he had Dallas County Commissioner J.J. Koch escorted out of a commissioners' meeting because he refused to wear a mask. Koch, who is vaccinated against COVID-19, is now suing him.

During an interview on BlazeTV host Glenn Beck's radio program, Paxton said the state of Texas is also suing to have Abbott's ban on mask mandates enforced and Jenkins' actions declared illegal.

Paxton said what Jenkins did was "in complete violation of state law." He told Beck that litigation is already under way and that "we're going to try to stop what we consider illegal by this county judge."

"Here's the deal, Glenn. These guys are supposed to act under law. And if he doesn't like the current law, he needs to like lobby the legislature to change it. Not decide for himself," Paxton said.

Texas AG @KenPaxtonTX exclusively tells me that he's SUING Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins for trying to overrule… https://t.co/c5SL3ezz1I

— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) 1628613636.0

The attorney general predicted victory, defending Abbott's order as lawful.

"If the law matters, he has no chance. We've won these battles before. This is déjà vu all over again for us. So we're very confident we're going to win. I think he's doing it for media coverage," he said.

Jenkins' court filing argues that a temporary injunction against Abbott's mask mandate ban is needed "because there is immediate and irreparable harm that will befall Dallas County — and others outside Dallas County — if they cannot require the public health-advancing mitigation measure of mandatory face coverings in public."

He claims that Abbott is threatening people's lives by preventing him from requiring masks in county commissioners meetings. Jenkins also insists that the state's Disaster Act, which gives county judges the authority to declare local disasters and to seek to mitigate the disaster, precludes the governor from limiting the actions a county judge like Jenkins determines is necessary to do so.

During the pandemic, with COVID-19 cases rising in Texas, Jenkins argues government entities and schools must be allowed to implement mask mandates or else "many people will unnecessarily get seriously ill or die."

But Paxton said Jenkins does not have the legal authority to violate the governor's order.

"I think [Barack] Obama set this up, when he was president. He ignored federal law. Didn't work through Congress. Made up his own executive order, had agencies make up the law, and just thumbed his nose at laws," Paxton said.

"I think he set sort of the mindset for a lot of Democrats. Particularly, Democratic elected officials. 'I don't have to follow the law either. If President Obama doesn't do it, I might adopt the same approach.' So that's kind of the same approach you're seeing by mayors, by county judges, by elected officials all over the country. Who just say, look, why should I follow that? Sue me. They have no political risk."