Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on Saturday by the state Senate of 16 impeachment articles, ending a two-week trial that featured substantial evidence of alleged corruption. Despite two Republican senators voting for conviction, the majority of Paxton's party voted to acquit him. Following the acquittal vote, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) officially reinstated Paxton as the state’s top law enforcement officer and four impeachment articles were dismissed.
Posts tagged as “Annual Texas Country”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment in the GOP-controlled state Senate, with only two Republicans voting to remove him from office. Despite more than 60 Republicans in the Texas House crossing party lines to impeach Paxton, the Senate voted unanimously to acquit him, bringing the months-long impeachment process to an end. Paxton is a former state senator and his wife is currently a state senator.
The United States Department of Justice has announced the extradition of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, to the United States. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the extradition is part of the Justice Department's effort to attack the cartel's operations, and comes just two days after El Chapo's wife was released from a federal prison. Lopez is currently in federal custody in Chicago and is facing drug trafficking charges, but no further details have been released.
The Texas Senate has begun deliberations in the impeachment trial of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, with the impeachment managers arguing that he abused his power to protect a political donor and his defense team arguing that the charges were politically motivated and baseless. Former senior aides testified to their concern and alarm over Paxton's actions, with the jury of senators now deliberating whether to convict and remove him from office. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched in the coming days, as it could have a major impact on the state's political landscape.
A federal judge has ruled that the Biden administration's effort to codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy into a federal regulation was unlawful. Judge Andrew Hanen, appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush, barred the government from approving any new applications, but left the program intact for existing recipients. The Supreme Court is expected to make a final ruling on the legality of the DACA program in the coming months.
Charlie Robison, a Texas singer-songwriter, passed away on Sunday due to complications from a medical procedure. He was known for his rootsy anthems and released his solo debut album, “Bandera,” in 1996. His music and commitment to his home state of Texas will be remembered and cherished by fans for years to come.
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas has condemned Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on hundreds of military promotions, calling it a "paralyzing" move and a "national security problem." GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley also weighed in, calling the policy "a national security problem" and promising to end it if elected. The hold on military promotions has been ongoing for months, creating a national security issue.
A federal appeals court has temporarily paused a lower court's ruling that would have required Texas to remove its controversial floating river barriers from the Rio Grande. The barriers, which are intended to deter migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, were installed by the state of Texas and will remain in place for the time being. The Justice Department had argued that the barrier was a violation of the U.S. Constitution and the International Boundary and Water Commission Treaty of 1970, while Texas argued that the barrier was necessary to protect the state from illegal immigration. The appeals court's decision is only temporary, and the case will continue to be litigated in the courts.