Texas Republicans have appointed impeachment managers to lead the controversial trial of the state's Republican attorney general Ken Paxton.
Seven Republicans and five Democrats were chosen Monday to lead the case, with a trial set for no later than August 28.
House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) named Andrew Murr (R-Junction) as chair of the impeachment committee and Ann Johnson (D-Houston) as vice chair.
The other ten managers are Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth), Jeff Leach (R-Allen), Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas), Briscoe Cain (R-Houston), Cody Vasut (R-Angleton), David Spiller (R-Jacksboro), Joe Moody (D-El Paso), Terry Canales (D-Edinburg), Oscar Longoria (D-Mission), and Erin Elizabeth Gámez (D-Brownsville.)
After their appointment Monday, the managers walked across the Capitol to the Senate, where they formally submitted the articles of impeachment.
“This is about facts and the evidence," Murr said. "This is not about politics.”
Johnson accused Paxton of jury tampering after his team allegedly shared his defense strategy with senators, who will weigh his fate. To be removed from office, two-thirds of the Senate must vote to remove Paxton, who has been suspended in the interim.
"We expect, as this committee has thoughtfully engaged in the process, with the highest level of integrity, that the individuals on the other side would realize dropping a binder on your potential jurors could be considered tampering or attempting to interfere with a lawful process," she said.
The Texas House voted 121-23 Saturday to impeach Paxton on corruption charges. Paxton, a vocal Trump ally who has sued the Biden administration aggressively, has called the effort a political witch hunt orchestrated by the moderate wing of the state's Republican party and Phelan.
“Phelan’s coalition of Democrats and liberal Republicans is now in lockstep with the Biden Administration, the abortion industry, anti-gun zealots, and woke corporations to sabotage my work as Attorney General,” he wrote in a statement.
Some Paxton supporters rallied in his defense Monday as former President Trump reprimanded Texas' governor Greg Abbott (R) for staying silent on the controversy.
"MISSING IN ACTION! Where is the Governor of Texas on his Attorney General’s Impeachment,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Thank you to all in Collin County for your support today! pic.twitter.com/e85WLhuIJA
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) May 29, 2023
