Ken Paxton faces a after the Texas House 鈥� including every member of his home county 鈥� from his duties as attorney general.
But Paxton's most die-hard supporters in Collin County, where he rose to prominence in Texas politics, see his impeachment as an unfair political move by a GOP-led House they claim don鈥檛 represent conservative Republican values.
Now, they鈥檙e focusing their attention on Republican senators who will decide Paxton鈥檚 fate.
鈥淲e are expecting the Senate to have a much cleaner, thought-out process,鈥� said Abraham George, the chairman of the Collin County Republican Party. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 believe the House did that.鈥�
Collin County, just north of Democratic-leaning Dallas, is home to 1.1 million Texans and has consistently voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1968.
Now, Paxton has become a polarizing figure that has showcased a divide in the Republican Party.
It鈥檚 likely some GOP senators will vote for conviction, in part because of the thousands of pages of evidence released by House impeachment managers in the days ahead of the trial.
But Paxton still has allies on his home turf, with many local GOP officials standing by him amid the accusations. On Saturday, the Collin County GOP will host a Labor Day picnic in Plano in which Paxton is scheduled to appear alongside County Judge Chris Hill, Sheriff Jim Skinner, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Congressman Keith Self.
鈥淧eople feel like it was a rushed process and, because of that, it really leaves major questions in people鈥檚 minds,鈥� said John Myers, vice chair of the Collin County GOP. 鈥淲hy is this taking place now? What are the underlying reasons? Is there, perhaps, some sinister plot behind getting rid of the attorney general?鈥�
The 20 articles of impeachment approved by the Texas House in May contain accusations including constitutional bribery, abuse of official capacity and misuse of official information. Paxton has denied the allegations.
House impeachment managers have accused Paxton of illegal acts in order to shield from an FBI investigation.
鈥淪hould that be ignored? Well, no,鈥� Myers said. 鈥淭he voters knew about that, there were no new charges. And despite all the innuendos and all of the charges against the attorney general the people chose to reelect him.鈥�
But David Lethe, a GOP precinct chair in Plano, said he didn鈥檛 know about all the charges against Paxton.
鈥淚 was absolutely shocked, I had no idea that he was accused of doing these things in the articles,鈥� Lethe said. 鈥淲hat bothered me the most was [Paxton鈥檚 team] said it was public knowledge 鈥� there鈥檚 no way in heck that people knew.鈥�
As soon as he learned about the impeachment articles in late May, Lethe said he called his state representative and asked him to vote for impeachment.
Lethe said Paxton should resign 鈥� and that it could serve him in the long term by giving him future opportunities.
鈥淚f the state can鈥檛 prove he did what they accuse him of 鈥� and he takes the high road, takes one for the team, steps back, not only does it stop the impeachment but he's going to be set up,鈥� Myers said.
In Collin County, Lethe may be in the minority in thinking Paxton should resign. But, like most Republicans in his home county, he鈥檚 a fan.
鈥淭exans love him, I love him,鈥� Lethe said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done some fantastic things and I hate to say this but, damn, I鈥檇 vote for him in a heartbeat for governor or to replace John Cornyn.鈥�
He and most Republicans are asking the Texas Senate to hold a fair trial.
George, the Collin GOP chair, agrees the party shouldn鈥檛 completely absolve Paxton yet. But he added he has issues with how the Texas House managed Paxton鈥檚 impeachment, and wants a fair trial trial.
鈥淭he House did the whole thing in 48 hours 鈥� they got the entire packet about 48 hours prior to the impeachment,鈥� George said. 鈥淚t was done in the last three days of this session, on a Saturday afternoon, where most of the House members wanted to go home and be with their families after five months in Austin.鈥�
Both George and Myers said 鈥� whatever happens in this trial 鈥� the Republican Party of Texas will come out stronger.
They see any Republican infighting around Paxton as proof party members are holding each other accountable.
鈥淭he party is not taking a position on his innocence or guilt,鈥� George said. 鈥淭he party is taking a stance against a lot of the Republican representatives, our people, saying 鈥榶ou should do better.鈥欌��
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