GRANTS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
THE COUNT RUNS THROUGH ABOUT
MIDNIGHT. >> NOW TO SOME BREAKING NEWS.
A NORTH TEXAS STATE SENATOR IS
ASKING FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
DAN PATRICK AND THE SENATE TO REOPEN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF
ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON.
>> YOU KNOW, THIS COMES MONTHS AFTER THE SENATE ACQUITTED
PAXTON ON ALL 16 ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT FILED BY THE TEXAS
HOUSE.
NOW ONE SENATOR SAYS HE FEELS
MISLED.
NBC FIVE’S PHIL PRAISE AND
BROKE THE STORY DOWN ONLINE AND
AS OF THE BIG DEVELOPMENTS.
>> IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST YEAR,
THE TEXAS SENATE CHOSE NOT TO
REMOVE ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN
PAXTON FROM OFFICE OVER THESE
ALLEGATIONS.
I REACHED OUT TO THE TEXAS SENATORS IN OUR AREA TO GET A
COMMENT ON THESE NEW
REVELATIONS AND I DID GET A
RESPONSE.
>> THE TEXAS HOUSE IMPEACHED
ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON
RELAXED MAY, IN PART, FOR
VIOLATING THE TEXAS WHISTLEBLOWER ACT.
PAXTON FIRED A HANDFUL OF TOP
STAFFERS AFTER THEY REPORTED
HIM TO THE FBI ON BRIBERY AND
ABUSE OF POWER ACCUSATIONS. THE SENATE VOTED TO ACQUIT
PAXTON IN SEPTEMBER. NORTH TEXAS SENATOR DREW
SPRINGER VOTED TO ACQUIT, BUT
NOW HE FEELS MISLED.
THIS, AFTER IN CIVIL COURT, PAXTON TOLD A JUDGE HE WILL NOT
CONTEST THAT HE VIOLATED THE
TEXAS -- LOWER WHISTLEBLOWER ACT.
SENATOR SPRINGER PRESENTED A
LETTER TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER
IN THE SENATE AND HIS SENATE
COLLEAGUES WRITING, QUOTE, AT
THIS STAGE AND THE POINT OF
THIS LETTER, I’M ASKING THE
SENATE WHETHER THERE’S A LEGAL MECHANISM TO REOPEN THE
IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS.
FAILURE TO AT LEAST CONSIDER
THIS POSSIBILITY RUNS THE RISK
OF A.G. PAXTON MAKING A MOCKERY OF THE TEXAS SENATE.
PAXTON REPEATEDLY ARGUED THE
HOUSE PROCESS WAS RUSHED.
WE DO NOT YET KNOW IF ANY OTHER
SENATORS WILL JOIN SPRINGER AND
IF A NEW TRIAL WILL EVER GO ON.
>> WHAT THIS MEANS POLITICALLY,
WE DON’T YET KNOW, BUT WE DO
KNOW THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
IS SCHEDULED TO BE DEPOSED IN
TRAVIS COUNTY OVER THESE ALLEGATIONS.