On Monday, the former state employees argued that Paxton has failed to uphold key parts of the settlement agreement, including a $3.3 million payment and a promise to apologize.
Patrick Svitek
Patrick Svitek was the primary political correspondent for The Texas Tribune. Patrick covered elections, state leaders, the Legislature and political trends across the state from 2015 until 2024. He previously worked for the Houston Chronicle's Austin bureau. Patrick graduated in 2014 from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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Politics
Paxton critics pile on, calling impeachment trial rigged
House Speaker Dade Phelan wrote an op-ed for his hometown newspaper, saying the “fix was in from the start,” while other Republican officials are calling for Phelan’s resignation.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
“The guy can’t keep his zipper up”: Karl Rove pushes back at Ken Paxton
Rove pushed back against claims Paxton made in recent interviews that the GOP strategist colluded with other Texas officials to bring about the impeachment charges.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Dan Patrick defends taking $3 million from pro-Paxton group ahead of trial
The lieutenant governor said that he took just as much from “the other side,” including donors aligned with Texans for Lawsuit Reform, which Paxton has labeled a political enemy.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
“Get ready”: Ken Paxton promises retribution in interview blitz after impeachment trial
The radio interviews came the morning after Paxton gave his first post-acquittal interview to Tucker Carlson, telling the former Fox News host he was “re-energized” after the acquittal.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
GOP senators, open to Paxton conviction, flipped when they realized they were still short the votes
“I feel there were six senators who were ready to be the 21st vote,” said Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas. “But they didn’t want to be the 20th vote.”
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Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott says special legislative session on “school choice” coming in October
The governor promised political consequences if lawmakers cannot pass legislation allowing for publicly subsidized school vouchers before March primaries.
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Politics
State Rep. Rhetta Bowers latest to join race for Colin Allred’s U.S. House seat
At least 10 other Democrats — including state Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Farmers Branch — are running for Allred’s solidly Democratic seat as he vies for U.S. Senate.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Ken Paxton verdict heightens political tension ahead of education special session
The Texas House and Senate were already far apart on “school choice.” Anger over the impeachment trial might make it even harder to find common ground.
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Ken Paxton Impeachment
Ken Paxton emerges victorious from yet another career scandal
It marked a screaming milestone in a two-decade political career that has seen Paxton harness the state’s increasingly conservative politics — and later the rise of Donald Trump — to stay in power longer than his vulnerabilities would suggest.