Texas taxpayers spent more than $5 million on the failed effort to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a new state audit.
The state auditor reported that the majority of the funds were used to pay for contracted professional services, including investigators and legal experts. The audit was requested by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Paxton ally, following Paxton’s 2023 acquittal on 16 articles of impeachment.
The impeachment effort stemmed from accusations by whistleblowers in Paxton’s office and former House Speaker Dade Phelan. They alleged that Paxton abused his office to assist his friend, Austin real estate investor Nate Paul, in dealing with political adversaries.
Despite the significant expenditure, Paxton was ultimately acquitted, and the audit has raised questions about the cost and accountability of the impeachment process.
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