In his first remarks since being acquitted on 16 articles of impeachment, the suspended Texas attorney general blamed Democrats while also taking aim at a number of high-profile Republicans.
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In his first remarks since being acquitted by the Texas Senate on Saturday on 16 articles of impeachment, Paxton blasted fellow conservatives who he believes betrayed him and the party, including House Speaker Dade Phelan, former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and the all-Republican Court of Criminal Appeals.
During the 47-minute interview posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Carlson and Paxton did not discuss at length the substance of the impeachment case against the attorney general. Paxton said he believed the impeachment was retribution for lawsuits he filed challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election in several states as well as lawsuits Paxton filed challenging Biden's policies.
Paxton said he was eager to speak over the summer but noted he was barred by a trial gag order imposed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. He accused House impeachment managers of violating the order by leaking damaging information to reporters while he could not reply. He said they also were in touch with Rove, who published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal predicting Paxton would be convicted.
Paxton said it was unfair that impeachment automatically suspended him from office before he had a chance to defend himself. He said he supported Patrick's call to amend the state constitution to make impeachment and removal from office more difficult.