The files were posted online late Oct. 2, over two weeks after the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on 16 impeachment charges. The documents, which originally contained the attorney general’s home address and other personal information, were temporarily pulled down and republished Oct. 3 with redactions.
The details
In a letter accompanying the documents, the House impeachment managers said the newly released evidence gives Texans “a complete look at all facts in full context.”
The documents include transcripts of the impeachment proceedings, residence and payroll records for a woman whom Paxton allegedly had an affair with, records about renovations of Paxton’s Austin home, and more.
The evidence was not presented during the trial because several witnesses—including Paxton himself; his alleged ex-affair partner Laura Olson; and his campaign donor, Nate Paul—planned to plead the Fifth Amendment, the House managers wrote in the letter.
In a transcript of a conversation behind closed doors, Olson’s lawyer said her client would not answer any questions from House prosecutors if called to testify. Olson’s lawyer cited an ongoing FBI investigation into Paxton and argued “any association with Mr. Paxton or Mr. Paul ... could potentially cause her issues.”
Another file illustrates ties between Paul and Kevin Wood, a contractor who worked on Paxton’s home. Wood emailed Paul updates on the progress of the renovations in June and July 2020.
House prosecutors have accused Paul of bribing Paxton by paying for the renovations.
The backstory
Paxton was accused of misusing office resources to help Paul, accepting bribes, lying on official records and unfairly terminating employees who reported their concerns about his alleged misconduct to the FBI in 2020.
The House overwhelmingly voted to impeach Paxton in May, suspending him from office without pay and setting the stage for his Senate trial.
During a 10-day trial in September, 30 senators cleared Paxton of all the articles of impeachment and reinstated him as attorney general.
Paxton still faces two state securities fraud charges, for which a trial is expected to begin next year. Federal authorities are also still investigating Paxton regarding the whistleblower report.
