Thread by @bradj_TX

The Texas House is gaveled in to consider HR 2377, the articles of impeachment against @KenPaxtonTX.

The gallery is full. #txlege

Full articles here: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Rules: No more than 4 hours of debate. GI Committee will have 40 minutes for opening and 20 minutes for closing statements. The rest of the time will be evenly apportioned between those for and those against the resolution.

The chief House clerk is reading off the full articles of impeachment. Rep. John Smithee stands at the back mic waiting to ask questions.

Watch here: tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.ph…

Here’s a thread on one of the big questions (and cases made) about this resolution:

https://twitter.com/bradj_tx/status/1662509368145838083

Smithee asks if it’ll be one vote or one for each of the 20 counts. It will be one singular vote on the entire resolution.

@TerryCanales40 points out that members may put a statement of vote into the journal detailing thoughts on certain aspects of the articles.

@charliegeren now laying out the allegations centered on the Whistleblower suit and $3.3 million settlement.

Geren just said that Paxton called members to threaten “political consequences in their next election” should they vote for the articles.

.@RepLongoria and @DavidSpillerTX are laying out the case on the whistleblower suit and Paxton’s dealings with businessman and donor Nate Paul.

Timeline of that: thetexan.news/a-timeline-of-…

Paxton active on Twitter while this unfolds.

Spiller notes that the standard of evidence for voting to recommend impeachment is not “a preponderance of the evidence” nor “beyond a reasonable doubt.” That is reserved for the senate and its trial.

Rep Ann Johnson now providing the closing of the opening statement.

https://twitter.com/danieljfriend/status/1662537743711215617

Info on the @TXAG report being mentioned now:

https://twitter.com/danieljfriend/status/1662539832155856896

.@RepMattSchaefer now asking questions, asked if the committee interviewed any witnesses.

Murr says that all was done by the investigators hired by the committee.

Another Q: Murr says no witnesses were placed under oath.

Murr adds that doing so is not customary for the initial investigation — it’s reserved for a trial in the senate.

Murr says the committee has bot reached out to Nate Paul, nor have they subpoenaed any documents from him.

.@reptinderholt asks how the counsel/investigators were hired. Murr says they were picked for experience on white collar crime.

Tinderholt then probes about that each investigator has ties to the Harris County DA’s office — and says that three were fired from the DA’s office.

Tinderholt then criticizes the counselor’s voting records (allegedly Dem). Murr responds that he doesn’t care and only cares about their investigatory experience.

He also points to the fact that at least one of them worked under a Trump-appointed US Atty—Ryan Patrick, LG’s son.

Line at the back mic right now.

Rep. Smithee now speaking against the resolution.

“I’m not here to tell you that Ken Paxton should not be impeached…this house cannot impeach General Paxton on the record it has before it.”

“There is no record that General Paxton was ever given the opportunity to get representation and defend himself,” Smithee adds.

The committee issued two subpoenas on Tuesday to a “John Doe Num 6” and the OAG. But the OAG contends it was never given the chance to present.

There hasn’t really been a clear answer on that question, but Murr has not said that Paxton’s team ignored those subpoenas.

Tinderholt hammering the committee for the lack of presentation by the OAG.

.@brianeharrison criticizing the “rushed” timeline and the process — but also says the allegations against Paxton are especially “troubling.”

To harken back to the part about Nate Paul not having testified, this is an interesting note:

https://twitter.com/tdcaa/status/1662545781016895492

From the back mic, @leachfortexas notes that Paxton did not accept his invite to appear before the JCJ Committee he chairs.