The impeachment proceedings against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have officially racked up a hefty price tag, with state auditors reporting a total cost exceeding $5.1 million. According to CBS Austin, the bulk of the expenses were attributed to lawyer fees in the House's effort to prosecute Paxton, who ultimately was acquitted at his Senate trial.
These costs were initially underestimated by about $900,000, with house leaders previously failing to include a full account of legal expenditures. The State Auditor's Office detailed that over $4.4 million was spent by the lower chamber with more than $4 million designated for contracted professional services. This includes costs for attorneys, such as the $3.5+ million billed by Houston attorneys Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin, as per invoices released last year. The Senate's related expenses added up to $435,000, which encompassed lawmakers' per diems and travel, as CBS Austin stated.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who had requested the audit and overseen Paxton's trial, has been a stern critic of the impeachment costs. He has publicly condemned the expense, going as far as to claim the House "spent like drunken sailors on shore leave" on the case, according to the auditor's report. In a statement obtained by CBS Austin, Patrick thanked the new House Speaker for his transparency and criticized the former Speaker Dade Phelan for what he calls a "frivolous waste of taxpayer funds."
Meanwhile, Phelan has defended the decision to impeach, noting the importance of holding high office to account, as KXAN reports. He rebuffed Patrick's accusations, arguing that expense reports were "well-documented and subject to the same reporting standards as any other legislative function." With travel and supplies costs factored in, the financial aftermath of the impeachment process has quickly unfolded to be a major point of contention in the realm of Texas politics.
The impeachment, which arose from whistleblowers within Paxton's office alleging misconduct, has both emboldened and rattled the state’s political landscape. Former State Rep. Andrew Murr did not seek reelection and Phelan narrowly hung onto his seat amid considerable campaign spending. In a statement acquired by KXAN, State Rep. Ann Johnson, an impeachment manager, claimed her team presented "overwhelming evidence" of Paxton's corruption. As tallying the costs of democracy continues, its financial burden grows evidently steeper with every report and statement released to the public.
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