Texas’ Republican-led House of Representatives has begun historic impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Ken Paxton as Donald Trump defended the scandal-plagued GOP official from a vote that could lead to his ouster. The House convened Saturday afternoon to debate whether to impeach and suspend Paxton over allegations of bribery, abuse of public trust and that he is unfit for office. Accusations of wrongdoing have trailed Texas’ top lawyer for most of his three terms. After opening statements from the committee that recommended Paxton’s impeachment, there could be four hours of debate and closing remarks, then the vote. The 60-year-old Paxton has decried the process as an effort to disenfranchise the voters who reelected him in November.
