LIVE VIDEO: Impeachment Trial Begins For Texas AG

The Texas Tribune reports:

Ken Paxton arrived on the Texas Senate floor around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and huddled with his attorneys. It was previously unclear if Paxton would be present for his impeachment trial, and his attorneys have vowed that he will not testify.

Under Senate trial rules approved in June, the presiding officer — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — has the power to issue subpoenas compelling witnesses to attend. In one of their pretrial motions, however, Paxton’s lawyers have asked that he be carved out of that provision, arguing that Paxton is entitled to the same rights to not testify as a defendant in a criminal proceeding.

House impeachment managers have opposed that motion, and have said that Paxton still has the right to plead the Fifth Amendment.

Read the full article. Local outlets have said that much of the early testimony will center on Paxton’s mistress and the favors granted to her by a recently arrested developer in return for political favors granted to him by Paxton. Paxton is accused of using burner phones, fake emails, and a secret Uber account to hook up with the mistress.