I Am Article X

the coolest possible start to a rule book

Blaming voter fraud for what happened in Texas is super convenient because it means we don’t have to take responsibility for anything. Let’s not do this.

imagine telling your sweet innocent self from the 86th legislative session what would be in store for the 90th #txlege

It’s spelled Briscoe.

Hey Texas, call Gina Hinojosa’s office and ask her why she voted against banning a state income tax in Texas. 📞(512) 463-0668

This is a fact-driven account of why Ken Paxton was impeached—and why those facts matter now that he is asking Texans to send him to the United States Senate. I am grateful that The Dallas Morning News gave space to this evidence and to why it still matters. You can read the published version here: dallasnews.com/opinion/comme…. Because the published version is available only to subscribers, below is the essay as I submitted it. —- Impeachment prosecutor: Ken Paxton is unfit for office The evidence against him is relevant again now that he’s asking for our votes. Three years ago this month, Attorney General Ken Paxton faced removal from office by the Texas Senate after being impeached by the Texas House, 121 to 23. The vote was remarkable. Sixty Republicans joined 61 Democrats. More than 70% of House Republicans voted to impeach a member of their own party. This once straight-ticket Republican voter was proud. I served as chief counsel to the Texas House General Investigating Committee, led the investigation into Paxton, and later served as a trial attorney in the Senate. Those facts matter now because Paxton is asking Texans to send him to the United States Senate. The central story behind Paxton’s impeachment is less complicated than volumes of evidence make it seem: Paxton relentlessly used the Office of the Attorney General for the private benefit of his friend and donor, Nate Paul, and received benefits from Paul in the form of home renovations. Here’s how: Paxton pressed his office to release its copy of the federal criminal investigation of Paul to Paul — an extraordinary break from policy. He advocated against a Texas bank and charity. He directed his staff to enter litigation in which the state was not needed and demanded that the charity accept millions less than it was entitled to receive from Paul. Another unnecessary intervention prevented a Texas bank from foreclosing on a multimillion-dollar asset tied to Paul. Paxton also attempted to use government power to intrude into Texans’ private records. He installed a secret “prosecutor” as Paul’s personal resource, answerable only to Paxton, Paul and Paul’s attorney. The man was given a title he did not know was fake and an agreement he did not know was invalid. He was never paid or entered into the OAG human resources system. Paxton instructed him to take direction from Paul’s attorney and use OAG resources against Paul’s perceived enemies. Thirty-nine subpoenas targeting Texas citizens followed. The arrangement remained hidden until an alert banker called the OAG. Each action served to aid Paul’s federal criminal defense or save him millions owed to others. All of this was presented as evidence during Paxton’s trial. He used the weight of his office and powers hidden from public view to enrich himself and his friend. In my opinion, that is abuse of office. It is disqualifying. Then there were the renovations to Paxton’s home. Paul is a real estate developer. By Paxton’s own account, upgrades related to Paul were worth at least $121,000. We know because that is what Paxton ultimately paid, after he was caught getting them for free. Records and testimony link the upgrades directly to Paul. The work was completed by July 2020, yet there were no charges. On Sept. 30, 2020, Paxton’s senior staff reported him to the FBI for bribery and abuse of office related to the subpoenas and renovations linked to Paul. Paxton then directed an unsolicited payment to the purported contractor. There were no estimates, invoices or payments before Sept. 30. Metadata shows the lone invoice was created Oct. 1. It was backdated to appear to have been issued on Sept. 1. It was not delivered. For me, the facts preceding Sept. 30 sufficiently establish bribery and abuse of office. The Sept. 30 payment after the report solidifies it. The Oct. 1 backdated invoice is simply offensive. Continued…

As of today, it is 165 days until the 90th Legislature gavels in. #txlege

The @NRCC announces it will open its "Harlingen Battlestation" office alongside @EricDFloress this Saturday. #TX34

Chattter out of Gov Abbott's office is he will appoint former Rep. @NateSchatzline to succeed Secretary of State Nelson. We'll see #TxLege

Texas' statewide November slate is unofficially: Paxton v. Talarico Abbott v. Hinojosa Patrick v. Goodwin Middleton v. Johnson Huffines v. Eckhardt Buckingham v. Flores Sheets v. Tucker French v. Rosenthal

Paxton's an adulterous sleazewagon who reeks of corruption & would help Democrats break the filibuster to their advantage. There's nothing virtuous about supporting him. I would never vote for him for an executive office, including the one he currently holds. But electing Talarico gets us one step closer to Court-packing & the whole Democratic package of efforts to shatter the American constitutional system of government permanently beyond repair. Throw in teaching Christians false things about their faith that will cost them their immortal souls, and I'll take Paxton over that any day.

John Cornyn, Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt are all set to attend Trump's event tomorrow in Corpus Christi, per the challengers' campaigns and Cornyn's office. #TXSEN

Election Day is next week! Will there be any upsets? #txlege tdcaa.com/legislative/interi…

.@GregAbbott_TX announces special session to begin on Monday, July 21 with SB 3 on the agenda list. #txlege

.@GregAbbott_TX has signed SB 1, the 2026-27 budget. TLO shows a line item veto. #txlege