AUSTIN — The first week of Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial is set to wrap up today with more testimony from the attorney general’s former senior deputies.
Three of the ex-aides took the witness stand this week to say they had no choice but to report Paxton to the FBI after they became convinced he was an out-of-control boss bent on using his agency to help a friend and campaign donor.
The historic impeachment trial, the first of its kind in more than 100 years, is taking place in the Texas Capitol and is expected to last at least two weeks. The state Senate will determine whether to remove Paxton from office.
Jeff Mateer, Ryan Bangert and Ryan Vassar all testified that they had “a good faith” belief that Paxton committed crimes to help embattled Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. In exchange, Paul is accused of bribing Paxton with a kitchen remodel and a job for a woman with whom Paxton had an alleged affair.On Thursday, Bangert testified that “our office had been, in my view, hijacked to serve the interests of an individual against the interest of the broader public.”
Paxton expressed a deep mistrust for law enforcement that led him to believe Paul’s complaints that the FBI was unfairly probing his business interests, Vassar added.
The defense team has put the former employees under withering cross examination at times, asking them for the proof they knew the Paxton had committed crimes and accusing them of being disloyal and staging a “coup.” They’ve rejected that accusation.
On Thursday, defense attorney J. Mitch Little asked whether the attorney general deserved a call before his senior staff accused him of serious crimes.
“I don’t believe I owed General Paxton anything,” Vassar responded.
Vassar is expected to take the stand again Friday. More than 100 potential witnesses could be called over the next weeks, including Paul. Paxton cannot be forced to testify.
The attorney general, who is suspended pending the trial’s outcome, has not attended the proceedings since pleading not guilty on Tuesday.
