TEXAS  — A report from the Dallas Morning News puts the total cost to taxpayers for the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton at $4.3 million.

That may not be the ultimate cost, however.

The newspaper showed that about $3.7 million of it was spent on lawyers the House hired to prosecute Paxton.

The final price tag will probably be higher. The Dallas Morning News noted that one attorney invoice wasn’t included in its record request.

Following the Senate's acquittal of Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for an audit of the impeachment process. Thursday, Patrick said the Senate spent "roughly $435,000" total related to Paxton's impeachment and said in a statement that House Speaker Dade Phelan and the House "spent like drunken sailors on shore leave." 

Paxton and Phelan also spoke out on the report Thursday.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether it’s the House costs, Senate costs, or the overall impeachment session costs, many millions more were incurred on Dade Phelan’s sham and needless impeachment,” Paxton wrote in part. “We need effective leadership in the House that quits embarrassing Texas and is focused on making Texas a beacon of freedom, enterprise, and opportunity.”

“After Ken Paxton refused to testify before multiple House committees to justify his request of the Texas Legislature to settle a wrongful termination lawsuit brought against him by whistleblowers in his inner circle, the Texas House General Investigating Committee initiated its investigation into the merits of the whistleblower’s claims,” Phelan wrote. The investigation, impeachment, and trial of Ken Paxton shed a clear, unflinching light on who Paxton is and the lengths to which he will go to stay in power."

“The Texas House will continue to faithfully fulfill its obligation to protect the integrity of our institutions and safeguard the public’s trust," Phelan continued. 

The Dallas Morning News said its records request shows more than 24 lawyers worked to prosecute Paxton leading up to and during his impeachment trial in September.