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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says the impeachment proceedings against him are illegal and unjust.
"Every politician who supports this deceitful impeachment attempt will inflict lasting damage on the credibility of the Texas House that I served in," said Paxton.
He made the comments on Friday during a press conference that ended without taking questions.
A Republican-led State House committee filed twenty articles of impeachment against Paxton on Thursday following testimony from investigators alleging criminal acts during his time in office. A secret investigation into Paxton started in March after he asked the state legislature to approve the use of public funds for a more than three-million-dollar settlement with former employees. The employees were fired after accusing Paxton of abusing his office to benefit a donor, allegations that were echoed in the hearing.
"The fact that I was prohibited from presenting evidence to defend myself reveals that this shameful process was curated from the start as an act of political retribution," said Paxton.
The full House will vote on Paxton's impeachment on Saturday.