Paxton Won’t Testify, Lawyer Says

Ken Paxton has decided not to testify at his September impeachment trial.

The suspended attorney general’s lawyer said on Tuesday that Paxton would not “dignify” the process by taking the stand.

“They had every opportunity to have Attorney General Paxton testify during their investigation but refused to do so,” attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement, per the Austin American-Statesman. “We will not bow to their evil, illegal, and unprecedented weaponization of state power in the Senate chamber.”

Buzbee’s comments were the first from Paxton’s team criticizing the Senate process.

The House impeached Paxton in a 121-23 vote on 20 charges, including bribery, obstruction of justice, and dereliction of duty. Paxton has said he was not given a chance to defend himself in the House before the impeachment vote.

“The House has ignored precedent, denied him an opportunity to prepare his defense, and now wants to ambush him on the floor of the Senate,” Buzbee said, per The Texas Tribune. “They had the opportunity to have Attorney General Paxton testify during their sham investigation but refused to do so.”

The Senate has set a September 5 trial date, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

Under the rules of the Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has the power to compel witnesses. Paxton’s team said it would fight any attempt to bring him to the stand.

In his statement on Tuesday, Buzbee said Paxton was a target as “America’s most conservative and most successful attorney general,” Austin American Statesman reported. 

“This is why Attorney General Paxton was impeached by the kangaroo court in the Texas House,” the statement claimed. “This is about silencing conservatives, eliminating an effective political opponent, and overturning an election.”

Buzbee was hired by Paxton in June. He is a Houston attorney who previously defended high-profile clients including Texas Gov. Rick Perry and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson when he played for the Houston Texans.

Paxton, whose family lives in McKinney, was re-elected for a third term in 2022 by a wide margin. His wife, Angela, is a senator representing Collin County. She has been barred from deliberating or voting in the impeachment trial, but will be allowed to sit in the chamber during the proceedings.