From our correspondent in the United States,

"Dallaaaaas, your ruthless universe". In a saga that has nothing to envy to the famous soap opera of the 1980s, the attorney general of Texas, Ken Paxton, is under the threat of an impeachment led by the Republicans of the Lone star state, with a vote scheduled for Saturday. Accused of bribery and obstruction of justice in a tortuous case involving a wealthy donor and whistleblowers, this ally of Donald Trump retaliated by asking for the head of the Speaker of the House, suggesting that he had presided over a drunken session.

In the event of a Senate trial, Paxton's future could be decided by his wife, elected in 2019. Who should consider an article accusing the Attorney General of having hired his mistress.

Indicted by Texas justice and targeted by an FBI investigation

Ken Paxton's troubles date back to 2015. Barely elected chief prosecutor (attorney general), the former representative and senator is indicted for financial fraud by the Texas justice, which accuses him of selling shares to investors without revealing that he was compensated by the company. Repeatedly postponed, his trial has still not taken place.

For years, elected officials have acted as if nothing had happened, including in 2020 when Paxton was accused by four subordinates of using Texas judicial services to help a wealthy donor to his campaign. Who would have in exchange hired the mistress of the prosecutor. According to CNN, an investigation has since been opened by the FBI.

The four whistleblowers sued the attorney general's office in civil court, accusing Paxton of firing them in retaliation. The prosecutor eventually reached an out-of-court settlement of $3.3 million — a bill meant to be paid by Texas taxpayers. This is where the Republican elected officials decided to whistle the end of the recess, to avoid having to approve this regulation.

As the noose tightened, Ken Paxton this week asked for the head of the Republican Speaker of the House, Dade Phelan, saying that the latter had presided over a drunken session. On the video, the Speaker clearly does not look fresh, but several colleagues, including Democrats, claim that the day had been very long and that he was not under the influence of alcohol.

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Paxton's wife, potential juror

Everything accelerated on Thursday. A committee voted unanimously to introduce 20 articles of impeachment against Ken Paxton, which are scheduled to be considered by the House on Saturday. As in the Washington Congress, an impeachment is voted by a simple majority. In a notorious difference, in the event of impeachment, the attorney general would be suspended from office, pending the verdict of a trial in the Senate.

For a conviction – synonymous with impeachment – a two-thirds majority is required, or 21 senators out of 31 (19 Republicans and 12 Democrats). To add spice to this soap opera, Paxton's fate could be in the hands of his wife Pamela, elected senator in 2019. If a trial takes place, however, she would have the opportunity to recuse herself.

The case shook Republicans nationally. In 2020, Ken Paxton had fiercely supported Donald Trump's accusations of fraud, even going so far as to file an appeal with the Supreme Court of the United States, which the body had rejected. Former 2016 Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson took a stand, saying on Twitter: "Texas MAGA Republicans support Ken Paxton against the Republican establishment that is joining with Democrats in attacking our attorney general." Civil war is not far away.

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