If I had the graphics skills displayed by the author of “Stick a fork in Trump because he is done,” I would stick a fork to the mug shot of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (above), as I believe he should be done, too.
And so does the Editorial Board of the Austin American Statesman calling, in a powerful editorial today, for Paxton to step down.
As we quoted the Statesman last week, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton “was arrested and booked in Collin County around 10:30 a.m. Monday on three counts of felony securities law violations that allegedly took place before he became a statewide official in January.”
Then, a couple of days later:
Adding to the embarrassment and woes for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who is already facing three felony counts of state securities law violations, he and another top Texas health official have been ordered to appear before a federal judge in San Antonio next week to see “if they should be held in contempt for violating a court order prohibiting enforcement of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.
No wonder the Statesman believes Paxton should be done.
Noting that the “Rule of law” is “a tea party favorite, especially when its politicians are on the attack…[and] also a favored phrase of Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is now facing three felony indictments involving securities fraud,” the Statesman continues:
Paxton is the state’s chief legal and law enforcement officer. While his rhetoric would make one think his position exclusively deals with suing the Obama administration and investigating Planned Parenthood, Paxton is ultimately responsible for making sure Texans follow state and federal rules.
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The Collin County grand jury indictments unsealed last week mean that Paxton’s ability to enforce those rules is now compromised. A verdict determining his guilt or innocence could take years. The charges are serious, and if found guilty, Paxton faces the prospect of serving significant jail time. Paxton’s attorney Joe Kendall says that Paxton will plead not guilty to all three charges. However, the business of the people of Texas should not be made to suffer while he fights for his freedom and reputation in the courts. Paxton should step down.
Recalling that the Statesman chose not to endorse Paxton in the general election, “in large part, because of the legal cloud that was looming last fall” and how last September it wrote that “complaints raise the specter of the state’s top attorney facing a possible grand jury investigation and indictment while attempting to carry out the duties of the office. This is unacceptable,” the Statesman continues:
It is still unacceptable, as evidenced by the fact that Republican leaders can’t rouse themselves to come to Paxton’s defense. ..There is no way to call foul over political motivations to run him out of office. This is a prosecution in Paxton’s hometown, vetted by a grand jury with evidence collected by the Texas Rangers.
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We understand that an indictment does not determine guilt; but any attorney worth a grain of salt will tell you that credibility in a courtroom or a negotiation is critical. Paxton’s legal troubles have taken a sizable bite out of his credibility with the employees of his office and the people of Texas, who depend on his office for legal opinions, child-support payment and prosecution of white-collar crimes similar to the ones that he is currently charged with.
The Statesman Editorial Board concludes with the hopes that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott “will guide Paxton to the right course, and urge him to resign his post,” because it is “ important for the people of Texas to have an attorney general who is focused on the job at hand, which is maintaining the rule of law. Paxton is no longer able to make that claim.”
Call me a pessimist, but don’t hold your breath, Austin American-Statesman.
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Follow Dorian de Wind on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ddewind99
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.