Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment

"Paxton's team also tried to tap into the conservative vein of mistrust in federal law enforcement."

"The articles included allegations that Paxton hired an outside counsel who helped Paul investigate his enemies in business and law enforcement, pressured employees to issue a rushed legal opinion that helped Paul delay foreclosure sales of several properties and intervened to Paul's benefit in a lawsuit between a charity and the investor -- all while prioritizing Paul's case over more pressing state issues."

"The whistleblowers described being befuddled for months in the spring and summer of 2020 about why Paxton was devoting so much of the agency's attention to Paul and his complaints about law enforcement while ignoring their concerns that this was improper."

"Other episodes gave grist to criticism that Paxton considered himself above the law, like when he fled his home last year, in a truck driven by his wife, to avoid being served a subpoena."

"And impeachment lawyer Erin Epley noted that the day that Paxton allegedly paid for the work was the same day the whistleblowers reported him to the FBI, suggesting Paxton wired the $121,617 once he realized law enforcement was involved."

"All hired by Paxton, they included a champion of religious liberty whom Trump nominated to a federal judgeship, a longtime federal prosecutor and a decorated former Texas Ranger."

"Hours before the hearing, in an apparent attempt to preempt it, Paxton accused House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, of presiding over the chamber while drunk and demanded he resign.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Hours before the hearing, in an apparent attempt to preempt it, Paxton accused House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, of presiding over the chamber while drunk and demanded he resign.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"While Paxton blasted the impeachment as an illegitimate proceeding led by Democrats and liberal Republicans, the whistleblowers' conservative bona fides challenged that framing."

This is a negative sentiment.

""I told him that Nate Paul was a criminal," testified David Maxwell, former head of the agency's criminal division."

This is a negative sentiment.

"Even in the long, sordid history of Texas political scandals, Paxton stands out."

This is a negative sentiment.

"More dangerous to Paxton is a federal investigation that began when the attorney general's senior aides reported him to the FBI in 2020, alleging crimes that mirror the impeachment charges."

This is a negative sentiment.

"Paxton's defense team attempted to brand the whistleblowers as insubordinate, disloyal opportunists who jumped to conclusions based on incomplete information in staging what amounted to a palace coup."

This is a negative sentiment.

"Paxton's team also tried to tap into the conservative vein of mistrust in federal law enforcement."

This is a negative sentiment.

"They grew troubled that Paxton shared Paul's distrust of police and brushed off their warnings to distance himself from the real estate investor, whose business empire was crumbling and who was the subject of a federal criminal investigation.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Despite the victory, Paxton's troubles are far from over."

This is a negative sentiment.

"The implication was that he did so in preparation for being appointed Paxton's replacement.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Only two of 19 Republican Senators, Bob Nichols of Jacksonville and Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills, voted in favor of convicting for any article -- a stark contrast to the nearly 70% of House Republicans who impeached the attorney general in May.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Association with scandal has not appeared to chasten Paxton, who has often claimed he is being persecuted by political opponents."

This is a negative sentiment.

"The articles included allegations that Paxton hired an outside counsel who helped Paul investigate his enemies in business and law enforcement, pressured employees to issue a rushed legal opinion that helped Paul delay foreclosure sales of several properties and intervened to Paul's benefit in a lawsuit between a charity and the investor -- all while prioritizing Paul's case over more pressing state issues.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"The request spurred House members, concerned they were being asked to participate in a cover-up, to begin a secret investigation in March to determine whether the whistleblower claims against Paxton of bribery and corruption had merit.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Buzbee poked a hole in the testimony of Paxton personal aide Drew Wicker, who said he'd overheard a conversation where the attorney general told a contractor he wanted granite countertops in the kitchen, to which the contractor replied he'd have to "check with Nate."

This is a negative sentiment.

"All hired by Paxton, they included a champion of religious liberty whom Trump nominated to a federal judgeship, a longtime federal prosecutor and a decorated former Texas Ranger.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"All hired by Paxton, they included a champion of religious liberty whom Trump nominated to a federal judgeship, a longtime federal prosecutor and a decorated former Texas Ranger.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

""We considered it sort of a crisis moment," said Jeff Mateer, Paxton's former top deputy."

This is a negative sentiment.

""nnThe outside lawyer, Brandon Cammack, testified that Paxton never told him of his friendship with Paul and then reneged on paying for his work after the whistleblowers exposed their arrangement.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"In a tense moment toward the end of the trial, the House attempted to call Paxton's alleged lover, Laura Olson, who had never spoken publicly about their relationship."

This is a negative sentiment.

"The whistleblowers described being befuddled for months in the spring and summer of 2020 about why Paxton was devoting so much of the agency's attention to Paul and his complaints about law enforcement while ignoring their concerns that this was improper.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Some of the defense's arguments bordered on conspiratorial, hinting at a broader divide within the Republican Party between Paxton's far-right faction and the establishment wing including Phelan, Abbott and Patrick.nnBuzbee at one point insinuated that Bush, Paxton's erstwhile rival, may have been in cahoots with the whistleblowers because he requested to reactivate his law license the same day they went to the FBI."

This is a negative sentiment.

"Some of the defense's arguments bordered on conspiratorial, hinting at a broader divide within the Republican Party between Paxton's far-right faction and the establishment wing including Phelan, Abbott and Patrick.nnBuzbee at one point insinuated that Bush, Paxton's erstwhile rival, may have been in cahoots with the whistleblowers because he requested to reactivate his law license the same day they went to the FBI."

This is a negative sentiment.

""nnPaxton's former top deputy said his boss's bizarre behavior "finally made sense" when he realized Paul had hired the woman with whom he was having an affair, which allowed her to move to Austin where he could more easily see her."

This is a negative sentiment.

"Other episodes gave grist to criticism that Paxton considered himself above the law, like when he fled his home last year, in a truck driven by his wife, to avoid being served a subpoena.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"And impeachment lawyer Erin Epley noted that the day that Paxton allegedly paid for the work was the same day the whistleblowers reported him to the FBI, suggesting Paxton wired the $121,617 once he realized law enforcement was involved.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Buzbee, Paxton's lead lawyer, said the former deputies owed it to the attorney general to share their concerns with him before going behind his back to the FBI.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"Paxton's wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, was on hand to witness his acquittal."

This is a negative sentiment.

"She could have helped the prosecution prove its second bribery claim: that Paul hired her in return for the favors Paxton was providing."

This is a negative sentiment.

"The findings of the House investigative committee, released in May, were explosive: that Paxton had likely broken numerous state laws, misspent office funds and misused his power to benefit Paul, his friend and political donor."

This is a negative sentiment.

"Paxton's team -- and his supporters outside the Capitol -- also seized on witnesses' answers about how much evidence they had before reporting Paxton to the FBI."

This is a negative sentiment.

""Mr. Paxton turned the keys of the office of attorney general over to Nate Paul," impeachment manager Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, said on the first day of the trial Sept. 5.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

""Mr. Paxton turned the keys of the office of attorney general over to Nate Paul," impeachment manager Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, said on the first day of the trial Sept. 5.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.

"The House, including more than two-thirds of Republican members, voted to impeach Paxton three days later."

This is a positive sentiment.

"This discovery, coupled with the realization that an outside lawyer hired by Paxton, without their knowledge, had sent subpoenas to banks that had made loans to Paul's businesses, prompted the whistleblowers to report the attorney general to the FBI.nn"

This is a negative sentiment.