Trump calls out Texas GOP for ‘sham’ Ken Paxton impeachment, ‘So this is the RINO responsible’

Attorney General Ken Paxton was impeached by the Texas House on Saturday on charges of bribery and abuse of public trust. Trump agreed with Paxton's claims that the move was an "ugly spectacle" in addition to being "illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust."

The former President posted a video to Truth Social which took aim at Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who introduced the articles of impeachment during what has been criticized by many as a "drunken episode" on the House floor, Washington Examiner reports.

"So this is the RINO who is responsible for the Impeachment of a just re-Elected Attorney General of Texas who has done an outstanding job?" Trump said on Truth Social. "What is our Country coming to?"

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/110442856141123411

Former President Trump, who is the current front-runner in the 2024 presidential election, also called out Republican Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott and his silence on the ousting of Paxton.

"MISSING IN ACTION! Where is the Governor of Texas on his Attorney General’s Impeachment?"

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/110443476069885666

On Saturday, the Texas House GOP voted to impeach AG Ken Paxton in a 121-23 vote, causing the attorney general to be temporarily suspended until the vote moves to the floor of the state Senate which will ultimately decide his fate. He is reportedly the third officeholder to be impeached in almost 200 years of Texas history.

Paxton condemned the impeachment in a fiery statement on Friday, calling it "profoundly unjust" and a blatant "disregard for the law."

"The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just. It was a politically motivated sham from the beginning," Paxton said. "My office made every effort to present evidence, testimony, and irrefutable facts that would have disproven the countless false statements and outright lies advanced by Speaker Dade Phelan and the Murr-Johnson panel he appointed."

"Unfortunately, they refused to consider anything that would interfere with their desired result," he continued. "They disregarded the law, ignored the facts, and demonstrated contempt for Texas voters."

Before Saturday's House vote, Paxton said, "Every politician that supports this deceitful attempt will inflict lasting damage on the credibility of the Texas House which I served in."

Fox News reported that Paxton's ousting comes after the Texas House Committee on General Investigating, comprising three Republicans and two Democrats, wrote up 20 articles of impeachment for the state attorney general over years of alleged abuse of power, bribery, and other accusations.

Attorney General Paxton has since defended himself from the allegations and says that the accusations are "unfounded."