88S30457 BPG-F
By: Tinderholt H.R. No. 16
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On September 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted
Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment
considered in a two-week trial; and
WHEREAS, The Senate also voted to dismiss four other articles
of impeachment that the chamber agreed to set aside prior to the
trial, which stemmed from secretive, rushed, and flawed proceedings
in the Texas House in May 2023; and
WHEREAS, Just two days after the House General Investigating
Committee revealed that it had spent months surreptitiously
scrutinizing the actions of Attorney General Paxton, it recommended
impeachment; it failed to put witnesses under oath during its
investigation and then failed to follow the rules of evidence in
alleging wrongdoing, basing its case on hearsay that would never be
admissible in a court of law; Attorney General Paxton was not given
the opportunity to defend himself to the Investigating Committee;
and
WHEREAS, The House General Investigating Committee failed to
provide House members with adequate time or means to evaluate the
information it presented; the first impeachment of a statewide
official in over a century proceeded at warp speed, and despite a
complete lack of evidence, within two days, the House voted to
impeach, causing Attorney General Paxton's automatic suspension
from office pending a trial in the Senate; and
WHEREAS, In September, the fair and deliberative Senate trial
exposed the haste, flimsiness, and unfairness of the House
impeachment process, and Attorney General Paxton was duly
vindicated; the impeachment process in the House was a debacle that
undermined its legitimacy and integrity, and in order to restore
public faith, it must make amends for the grievous errors
committed; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby extend a formal apology to
Attorney General Ken Paxton; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Attorney General Ken Paxton as an expression of
sincere contrition by the Texas House of Representatives.