AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The next steps for the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton became a little clearer Monday evening, with the Senate adopting a resolution calling for the trial to begin no later than August 28.
On the final day of the regular session Monday, the House voted to appoint 12 of its members as impeachment managers, who then officially delivered the 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton to the Senate.
The House voted 121-23 on Saturday to impeach Paxton, making him the third official in Texas history to be impeached and immediately removing him from office pending the Senate trial.
Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction) will lead the group from the House, with Rep. Ann Johnson (D-Houston) acting as vice chair. The managers are made up of seven Republicans and five Democrats, including Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth), Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso), Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg), Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen), Rep. Oscar Longoria (D-Mission), Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas), Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Houston), Rep. Cody Vasut (R-Angleton), Rep. David Spiller (R-Jacksboro), and Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez (D-Brownsville).
On the Senate side, seven senators will now work to outline rules for the trial. That committee, chaired by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) and Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen), will bring that outline forward to a full meeting of the Senate set for June 20. At that date, the Senate will determine when it will convene as a "court of impeachment."
Once the trial begins, a two-thirds vote of the Senate will be required to approve the articles of impeachment and permanently remove Paxton from office. Republicans hold a 19-12 majority in the upper chamber.
