Texas Senate acquits Ken Paxton in historic impeachment trial
Al JazeeraSep 03, 2023
The Facts
On Saturday, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was fully acquitted of 16 charges of corruption, bribery, and misconduct following his impeachment trial.
Paxton can now be reinstated more than three months after he was suspended from office because the GOP-led Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach him over charges he abused his power.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Democrats, the liberal media, and even left-leaning Republicans conducted a witch hunt based on rumor and innuendo, and they lost. Paxton maintained his innocence throughout this process, and this verdict is vindication against this politically motivated attack.
Democratic narrative
Paxton hasn’t been vindicated in this case, he’s just been saved by Republicans willing to place him above the law because he shares their politics. They used the Trump playbook to characterize his crimes as a "witch hunt" in the face of overwhelming evidence of guilt. Justice hasn’t been served, and democracy has been jeopardized.
