Paxton blames Biden administration for his impeachment

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton blamed the Biden administration for his impeachment and called for the removal of state House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) during his first public comments since the state Senate acquitted him on all 16 articles of impeachment last week.

“I really do,” Paxton said when interviewer Tucker Carlson asked him whether he thinks the Biden administration was behind the effort to impeach him.

Paxton said the administration was trying to get him "out of the way" after he filed several lawsuits against it. In Texas, an official is suspended during the impeachment trial.

He also accused Phelan of being in the Democrats' pockets and called for his removal.

“I don’t think he particularly has an ideology. He’s like, ‘I want to stay in power. I’ve cut this deal to be Speaker with Democrats,'” Paxton said.

Former President Donald Trump claimed credit for Paxton's acquittal, saying his infrequent but supportive posts on Truth Social convinced the state Senate to acquit him.