Texas AG Ken Paxton's trial cost taxpayers over $5 million

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's 2023 impeachment trial cost taxpayers over $5 million, the state auditor's office has found.

Why it matters: Paxton's trial and the failed push for a school voucher program exposed rifts among Texas Republicans during the 2023 legislative session.

• The fallout cost many incumbents their seats in 2024.

Catch up quick: Paxton was accused of illegally using his office to help an Austin real estate developer and of improperly firing some of his top deputies who reported him to the FBI and other agencies.

• The Texas House voted 121-23 in 2023 to impeach him. After eight days of testimony, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton, and he was allowed to return to his position.
• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick requested an audit of the costs associated with the trial.

Follow the money: The Texas House spent about $4.4 million to prepare for and conduct Paxton's trial, per an audit report released Friday.

• The Texas Senate spent about $435,000, and the AG's office spent roughly $223,000.
• The majority of the money was spent on lawyers and investigators.

What they found: Evidence presented at the trial included testimony about Paxton's alleged favors for political donor Nate Paul and Paxton's alleged extramarital affair that one former staffer said hurt office morale.

• Investigators also accused Paxton of using a burner phone and Uber account to hide his affair and his relationship with Paul.

The other side: Paxton, who maintained his innocence, spent over $4 million to defend himself.

• He was allowed to use money from his campaign funds since the case pertained to his status as an elected official, using $2.3 million, per the Texas Tribune.

Between the lines: Paxton's impeachment almost cost former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan reelection last year. The Republican from Beaumont led the proceedings.

• Paxton's allies, including Texas' lieutenant governor and President Trump, backed Phelan's challenger in the 2024 primary. Phelan kept his seat after a tense and costly campaign but didn't run for House speaker.

• "Now that taxpayers have the facts about frivolously wasted taxpayer funds (by Phelan) for an ill-fated political gambit, we can put this shameful epoch of our state's history behind us," Patrick said in a statement Friday.

The intrigue: Only two other Texas officials have been impeached in state history — Gov. James E. Ferguson in 1917 and district judge O.P. Carrillo in 1975.

Flashback: Paxton was indicted on securities fraud charges in Collin County shortly after he first took office as attorney general in 2015.

• Last year, he reached an agreement with prosecutors to complete community service and avoid a trial.

Of note: Paul pleaded guilty in January to making false statements to a financial institution, though Paxton's attorney has said Paul's case had "nothing to do" with the attorney general.