You want a smoking gun? A hush money receipt? This is as close as it gets in Paxton trial | Opinion
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The saga of Ken Paxton: Our Opinion coverage
Our Editorial Board has closely followed the saga of Attorney General Ken Paxton. Read our coverage to catch up on the issues in his impeachment, and check out our analysis as the trial unfolds.
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There seems to be a growing consensus among a sect of far-right conservatives in Texas that because House impeachment managers have not produced a smoking gun or a check to Ken Paxton from Nate Paul with the word “bribery” written in the memo, the prosecution has produced no evidence that Paxton did anything related to bribery, corruption, or fraud.
Well, everybody’s been watching too much “Knives Out.” Because in real life, some things are a bit more subtle, especially when a master manipulator and skilled politician such as Paxton is at work. Wednesday’s testimony, the seventh day of the Senate trial to determine if the attorney general is removed from office, showed as much.
Drew Wicker, Ken Paxton’s “body man,” or friend and assistant, testified for several hours. He genuinely seemed to want Paxton to be proven innocent, due to their close relationship, and yet also testified that he had concerns about Paxton’s relationship with Paul, a real estate investor.
Wicker testified about several strange things happening: For example, when he stopped working at the AG’s office, he continued to get paid via direct deposit from Paxton’s campaign. Although he asked not to be paid, the payments continued, Paxton insisted he keep the funds and Wicker — who did not want the payments to be misconstrued — donated the money back to the campaign.
Paxton attorney Tony Buzbee maintained that it was a mere accident — a staffer neglected to stop the direct deposit — but that seemed entirely too coincidental, especially when later Wicker testified to Paxton’s penchant for frugality. He wanted the very employee who had suspicions about his friend Paul to keep several thousands dollars in “extra” funds?
Wicker also testified that while he was at Paxton’s home, a contractor said he’d discuss the financial implications of requested renovations with Paul three times. Surely a coincidence?
When it came to payment, this was as close of a smoking gun as anyone is going to see: The prosecution maintained that metadata on the invoice for the home renovation showed the invoice was created Oct. 1, 2020, in the evening hours, after the whistleblowers told Paxton they had reported him to the FBI.
Wicker also testified that Paxton used two “extra phones” few people knew about, that Paxton made calls on Wicker’s personal cell phone then wiped the call log, and used a Protonmail account, not subject to scrutiny, initially because Paxton went to China, and Protonmail was deemed more secure. Of course, this, too, could just all be Paxton’s personal preferences — surely every politician has four cell phones — but it’s clearly meant to be part of the House managers’ evidence showing that Paxton was conducting business that benefited him in secrecy.
Jurors must decide, if they find Paxton guilty, to do so beyond a “reasonable doubt.” Those who believe Paxton should be removed from office might wish that the House managers had a bit more concrete evidence, quid pro quos, and other smoking guns to produce. We haven’t seen that yet and likely won’t.
But they have produced a litany of people and a bevy of circumstantial evidence that just might prove one of Buzbee’s favorite adages: There are no coincidences in Austin.
This story was originally published September 14, 2023 at 5:31 AM.
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