AUSTIN, Texas – The drama from Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial continues. His wife, Sen. Angela Paxton posted a cheeky video online, showing her constituents part of their Austin home.
“And you’re seeing it for yourself with your very own eyes,” she says in the video, “the countertops are ceramic tile, not granite.”
One of the allegations against Paxton was that he took bribes, including home renovations, from a real estate developer and friend. But now that he’s been acquitted, Paxton wants to be paid for the months he was suspended from the job. But the state comptroller says it can only afford one attorney general, and during his suspension, the state paid the interim attorneys general. The office also encouraged Paxton to ask the state supreme court for a definitive ruling.
Even though Paxton is back in office, the whistleblowers who reported him to federal authorities say it’s not over.
“Although political pressure may have thwarted justice this month, we will continue our fight,” said Blake Brickman, one of the whistleblowers, on Monday.
After they were fired, the whistleblowers sued Paxton in 2020 for wrongful termination and retaliation. They settled their lawsuit for $3.3 million, but when Paxton asked the Legislature to pay the bill, which it hasn’t, the House began investigating him. Their findings led to Paxton’s impeachment in the House, and later his trial in the Senate. Now that Paxton’s back in the attorney general’s office after a months-long suspension, the whistleblowers want the Texas Supreme Court to put their case back on the docket so Paxton can be tried in a real court of law.
“All eight whistleblowers were gone within 45 days,” said another whistleblower, Mark Penley. “And we believe that when we get to try our case to a jury, the jury will agree with us that the Office of the Attorney General violated the Whistleblower Act.”
In an interview with Capital Tonight’s Karina Kling, Brickman said he is proud of himself and the other whistleblowers for reporting Paxton to federal authorities.
“One of my biggest concerns is for any public employee in the state of Texas that’s watched the last three years, how we’ve been treated, why would they come forward? Why would they? I mean, this has been really hard on our families, but I would do it again, because we did the right thing,” Brickman said. “I am 100% convinced that Ken Paxton is guilty, and I will fight this as long as it takes.”
Paxton faces other legal troubles. A trial date for his securities fraud charges is expected to be set in early October.
“He’s not out of the woods by any means,” said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University.
Paxton’s impeachment trial has created a bigger division between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Senate, and House Speaker Dade Phelan. At the end of the trial, Patrick scolded Phelan for impeaching Paxton in the first place.
“It should have never happened this year,” Patrick said after Paxton was acquitted.
In an op-ed, Phelan snapped back. He criticized the Senate for putting politics over principle, writing: “The whistleblowers did the right thing. The House did the right thing. And I sleep peacefully at night knowing there are still brave people in this state who are willing to speak up against corruption, even when it’s the politically challenging thing to do.”
Only two Republican senators voted to convict Paxton.
The division between the chambers became apparent months ago, when Patrick and Phelan couldn’t agree on the best way to provide Texans property tax relief. The fight continues as they gear up for a third special session focused on education.
“When you combine the personal rancor with pretty serious policy differences in several areas, I think that’s a recipe for continued conflict between the two chambers,” said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University.
The political fallout from Paxton’s trial continues at a time when lawmakers are gearing up for another session under the pink dome.
Watch the entire interview with Brickman by clicking play on the video above.