Politics breaking news reporter, @WashingtonPost. Formerly @TexasTribune and @HoustonChron. Email me at patrick.svitek@washpost.com.
Aug 3, 2023 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Hearing in Paxton securities fraud case is over. Both sides agree to return Oct. 6 to address pending pretrial motions and a potential trial date #txlege
Paxton was there for the hearing but did not speak, sitting in the front row throughout
Jun 7, 2023 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
Buzbee begins presser on Paxton defense, says Dan Cogdell is with him. Calls articles of impeachment "baloney" and allegations "false."
"Ken Paxton will never be convicted by the Senate"
#txlege
Buzbee calls the House impeachment a "driveby shooting on a holiday weekend to politically assassinate" Paxton #txlege
Jun 6, 2023 • 8 tweets • 3 min read
.@DanPatrick presser begins with prop taxes #txlege
Patrick continues to call eliminating prop taxes a "fantasy."
"I don’t blame it on the governor. He’s either getting very bad information from his staff or very bad information from someone on the outside." #txlege
May 29, 2023 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Breaking: Texas Senate approves plans to convene as a court of impeachment against Paxton no later than Aug. 28 #txlege
The Senate forms a seven-member committee to issues recommendation to the full chamber on rules of procedure for the trial. The committee will present its recommendations on June 20. #txlege
May 27, 2023 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Breaking: Texas House votes to impeach @KenPaxtonTX, 121-23 #txlege
2 present not voting
May 27, 2023 • 22 tweets • 7 min read
House gavels in and is immediately taking up Paxton impeachment #txlege
Rules of debate adopted, Phelan issues decorum warming to gallery, and articles are being read #txlege
"I don't know," Paxton says. "This is unprecedented for what they're doing. I have no idea why they've chosen to do this." #txlege
Paxton, cont'd.: "This is a level that is shocking to me, especially from a Republican House. This is what they're [using their] time to do instead of some of the important things like school choice." #txlege
May 24, 2023 • 14 tweets • 4 min read
At House General Investigating Committee hearing on Paxton matter, they're currently introducing a team of five lawyers and investigators with backgrounds in prosecuting public corruption #txlege
"Matter A relates to the attorney general himself, Ken Paxton," lead lawyer Erin Epley says #txlege
May 23, 2023 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Another twist today — House General Investigating Committee votes to issue subpoenas in Matter A, including for John Doe No. 6 and the Office of the Attorney General #txlege
Committee chair Murr calls the office of the attorney general "the subject matter of Matter A" #txlege
Feb 8, 2023 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
New: @DadePhelan is announcing committee assignments #txlege
Speaker pro tem: Geren
Oct 18, 2022 • 5 tweets • 3 min read
On media call, Abbott campaign says it expects turnout to go over 10M, as high as 10.6 or as low as 9.8.
2020 turnout was 11.3, 2018 was 8.4 #TXGOV
"Every indication we have, we're gonna win Tarrant County," Abbott strategist Dave Carney says. He adds they "feel very good" about Tarrant, but "it's competitive, not trying to slough if off, it's going to be a battle." #TXGOV
.@BetoORourke tries to confront @GregAbbott_TX after he speaks at Uvalde presser, walking up to the stage and telling him he’s “doing nothing” on gun violence
O’Rourke is eventually escorted away as some of the GOP officials onstage denounce him for interrupting
May 25, 2022 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
.@RepCuellar just spoke with reporters at his campaign HQ in Laredo. He reminded that he won his first race by a narrower margin. "I know what it is to do a recount in an election contest. We have very good attorneys, and if we need to, we will defend our election victory." #TX28
(1/2) Does a close race give you any pause about your politics/legislating?
Cuellar: I've always said "you just can't go w/ the wind. ... In my opinion, the Dem. Party has gone a little bit to the left in many ways. I want to stay true to my principles ... to my community."
Mar 16, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
O'Rourke, who had some standout votes on Russia in Congress that Abbott's criticized, says in Austin: "Whatever problems I've had w/ prev. admins. & our foreign policy in Europe, all of that ends for me ... right now given the crisis that we face." I "fully back" ppl of Ukraine.
Background on some of those votes: thedailybeast.com/beto-orourke-w…
Mar 2, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
BREAKING: Van Taylor is suspending his reelection campaign after he was forced into a primary runoff last night. He faced last-minute allegations of infidelity.
Taylor emails supporters: "About a year ago, I made a horrible mistake that has caused deep hurt and pain among those I love most in this world. I had an affair, it was wrong, and it was the greatest failure of my life."
Mar 2, 2022 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Abbott strategist @granitewinger debriefs with reporters, predicting "known-down, drag-out fight" against @BetoORourke. He says Abbott will spend more than $100M.
"We're gonna take the wood to this guy," Carney says. "We're not gonna take him off the mat." #TXGOV
Will Abbott shift to the middle for the general election? "Greg Abbott's never shifted on an issue for elections, ever," Carney says.
Mar 2, 2022 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
New — "I see myself just completely staying out of" the AG primary runoff, @LouieGohmertTX1 tells @MarkDavis
Gohmert says twice that it "remains to be seen" if his supporters will migrate to Paxton.
Gohmert's message to his supporters: "Follow your conscience. I'm not planning on weighing in at this point."
Mar 1, 2022 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
New this morning: Five questions the Texas primary will answer texastribune.org/2022/03/01/tex…
Everyone knows the top statewide primary is the GOP primary for AG. Has @EvaGuzmanForAG been rising at the end?
“Judging by the actions of my opponent, I think we are doing extremely well,” she said Friday after Paxton unleashed late TV blitz against her
On the eve of the Texas primary, I'm counting five of the Republican members of the state's congressional delegation who are running for reelection and who Trump never endorsed:
- Crenshaw
- Taylor
- Sessions
- Roy
- Gonzales
One commonality here is that 4 of them — Crenshaw, Taylor, Roy & Gonzales — each voted to certify the Ariz. & Penn. results in January 2021.
But it's not clear-cut. McCaul voted to certify both, & Trump still endorsed him. Van Duyne voted to certify AZ, & Trump still endorsed.
