Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Acquitted in Impeachment Trial, Sparking Controversy and Criticism

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment by the GOP-controlled state Senate, including charges of bribery and dereliction of duty. Paxton, who was suspended in May after being impeached by the Texas House, has been reinstated as attorney general. Despite more than 60 Republicans in the Texas House voting to impeach him, Paxton maintained strong support in the state Senate, with only two Republicans voting to remove him from office. Paxton called the impeachment a "sham" and criticized the weaponization of the process for political purposes.