Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

   
      88(3) HR 16 - Introduced version - Bill Text
      
            88S30457 BPG-F
         
		By:  Tinderholt
            H.R.  No.  16
         
               R E S O L U T I O N
            
                          WHEREAS, On September 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted 
         
            Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment 
         
            considered in a two-week trial; and
         
                          WHEREAS, The Senate also voted to dismiss four other articles 
         
            of impeachment that the chamber agreed to set aside prior to the 
         
            trial, which stemmed from secretive, rushed, and flawed proceedings 
         
            in the Texas House in May 2023; and
         
                          WHEREAS, Just two days after the House General Investigating 
         
            Committee revealed that it had spent months surreptitiously 
         
            scrutinizing the actions of Attorney General Paxton, it recommended 
         
            impeachment; it failed to put witnesses under oath during its 
         
            investigation and then failed to follow the rules of evidence in 
         
            alleging wrongdoing, basing its case on hearsay that would never be 
         
            admissible in a court of law; Attorney General Paxton was not given 
         
            the opportunity to defend himself to the Investigating Committee; 
         
            and
         
                          WHEREAS, The House General Investigating Committee failed to 
         
            provide House members with adequate time or means to evaluate the 
         
            information it presented; the first impeachment of a statewide 
         
            official in over a century proceeded at warp speed, and despite a 
         
            complete lack of evidence, within two days, the House voted to 
         
            impeach, causing Attorney General Paxton's automatic suspension 
         
            from office pending a trial in the Senate; and
         
                          WHEREAS, In September, the fair and deliberative Senate trial 
         
            exposed the haste, flimsiness, and unfairness of the House 
         
            impeachment process, and Attorney General Paxton was duly 
         
            vindicated; the impeachment process in the House was a debacle that 
         
            undermined its legitimacy and integrity, and in order to restore 
         
            public faith, it must make amends for the grievous errors 
         
            committed; now, therefore, be it
         
                          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas 
         
            Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby extend a formal apology to 
         
            Attorney General Ken Paxton; and, be it further
         
                          RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
         
            prepared for Attorney General Ken Paxton as an expression of 
         
            sincere contrition by the Texas House of Representatives.



	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, On September 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted
	Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment
	considered in a two-week trial; and
	WHEREAS, The Senate also voted to dismiss four other articles
	of impeachment that the chamber agreed to set aside prior to the
	trial, which stemmed from secretive, rushed, and flawed proceedings
	in the Texas House in May 2023; and
	WHEREAS, Just two days after the House General Investigating
	Committee revealed that it had spent months surreptitiously
	scrutinizing the actions of Attorney General Paxton, it recommended
	impeachment; it failed to put witnesses under oath during its
	investigation and then failed to follow the rules of evidence in
	alleging wrongdoing, basing its case on hearsay that would never be
	admissible in a court of law; Attorney General Paxton was not given
	the opportunity to defend himself to the Investigating Committee;
	and
	WHEREAS, The House General Investigating Committee failed to
	provide House members with adequate time or means to evaluate the
	information it presented; the first impeachment of a statewide
	official in over a century proceeded at warp speed, and despite a
	complete lack of evidence, within two days, the House voted to
	impeach, causing Attorney General Paxton's automatic suspension
	from office pending a trial in the Senate; and
	WHEREAS, In September, the fair and deliberative Senate trial
	exposed the haste, flimsiness, and unfairness of the House
	impeachment process, and Attorney General Paxton was duly
	vindicated; the impeachment process in the House was a debacle that
	undermined its legitimacy and integrity, and in order to restore
	public faith, it must make amends for the grievous errors
	committed; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
	Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby extend a formal apology to
	Attorney General Ken Paxton; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for Attorney General Ken Paxton as an expression of
	sincere contrition by the Texas House of Representatives.