United States: The Texas House of Representatives has made the decision to impeach Attorney General Mr. Ken Paxton, a prominent conservative figure and a close ally of former President Mr. Donald Trump.

Mr. Paxton, who is accused by fellow Republicans of misusing his position, faced a historic impeachment process. After extensive debates and speeches from both supporters and opponents of impeachment, the House voted 121-23 in favour of impeachment. During the vote, two members were present but abstained, while three were absent.

As a result of the impeachment, Mr. Paxton will be temporarily removed from his role as Attorney General until a trial takes place in the Senate.

The Attorney General has denied the accusations and denounced the proceedings as “illegal, unethical, and profoundly unjust” in a statement on Twitter after the vote.

“I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just,” Mr. Paxton noted.

The 20 articles of impeachment presented by a Republican-led House committee accuse Mr. Paxton of improperly aiding a wealthy political donor, conducting a sham investigation against whistleblowers in his office whom he fired, and covering up his wrongdoing in a separate federal securities fraud case against him, among other offences.

“Mr. Paxton continuously and blatantly violated laws, rules, policies, and procedures,” Representative Mr. David Spiller remarked ahead of the vote.

Mr. John Smithee, a long-serving conservative member of the chamber, stated that he was not speaking in Paxton’s defence but criticising the process and saying there was insufficient evidence.

“There is not one word, not one sentence, in the testimony before you that would be admissible in any Texas court of law. It is hearsay within hearsay within hearsay,” Mr. Smithee noted.

WORLD ROUNDUP: US accuses Russia’s Wagner Group of providing weapons to Sudan’s RSF