Texas panel issues articles of impeachment against state AG Ken Paxton

A Texas House committee unanimously voted to recommend Thursday that state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) be impeached.

The latest: Hours later, the Republican-led House General Investigating Committee recommended 20 articles of impeachment — including for alleged bribery, obstruction of justice and abuse of public trust.

Driving the news: The House panel heard public testimony this week from investigators who alleged that Paxton broke several laws and misused his power to help a political donor.

What to watch: If impeached, Paxton would be required to temporarily step down while facing a trial in the Texas Senate, per the New York Times.

• The Texas House of Representatives could vote on the matter as early as Friday, per AP.

What they're saying: "Overturning elections begins behind closed doors," Paxton said on Twitter.

• His tweet included a video of a lawyer from his office telling reporters while the committee was deliberating that the investigation is "illegal."
• "Any discussion of impeachment is completely foreclosed by Texas law," said the lawyer, Chris Hilton.

Of note: The Texas attorney general used his office to attempt to overturn 2020 election results in battleground states that former President Trump lost.

• Paxton was re-elected twice despite being under indictment on felony securities fraud charges.

• He's also under investigation by the FBI over bribery claims from whistleblowers.
• Paxton has denied all wrongdoing, though earlier this year agreed to a $3.3 million settlement with the whistleblowers, who are former aides in his office.

Meanwhile, former Trump White House senior adviser Stephen Miller denounced the recommendation.

• "Few in America have done more to advance the conservative legal movement, stop the lawless Biden executive onslaught, and defend our shared values" than Paxton, Miller tweeted.

Go deeper... Read: Texas lawmakers file 20 articles of impeachment against Ken Paxton

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.