Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acquitted on all 16 articles of impeachment

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Source: Texas Tribune

The Texas Senate on Saturday acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton of 16 articles of impeachment alleging corruption and bribery, his most artful escape in a career spent courting controversy and skirting consequences of scandal.

No article received more than 14 of the required 21 votes to convict. Only two of 19 Republican Senators, Bob Nichols of Jacksonville and Kelly Hancock of North Richland Hills, voted in favor of convicting for any article — a stark contrast to the nearly 70% of House Republicans who impeached the attorney general in May.

The dramatic votes capped a two-week trial where a parade of witnesses, including former senior officials under Paxton, testified that the attorney general had repeatedly abused his office by helping his friend, struggling Austin real estate investor Nate Paul, investigate and harass his enemies, delay foreclosure sales of his properties and obtain confidential records on the police investigating him. In return, House impeachment managers said Paul paid to renovate Paxton’s Austin home and helped him carry out ­and cover up an extramarital affair with a former Senate aide.

In the end, senators were unpersuaded.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/16/ken-paxton-acquitted-impeachment-texas-attorney-general/

---

Link to tweet

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Beat me by a second!

[Sneederbunk]

2. No surprise, it's Texass.

[Rebl2]

97. Yep

[Sucha NastyWoman]

3. So disappointing

But not surprising.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acquitted on 16 articles of impeachment,

[Paladin]

5. MotherFUCK this shit. (nt)

[AKwannabe]

49. Ditto

☝️

[Delphinus]

76. Amen!

I am disgusted. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. An old boys club with a lot of secrets /nt

[dlk]

7. Corruption runs deep and wide in Texas

Paxton’s cronies were making multi-million dollar “campaign contributions” even before the trial. There’s no telling how much money was paid under the table. In Texas, Republicans have no respect for the rule of law when it comes to policing their own. The double-standard and hypocrisy is off the charts.

[jmowreader]

33. You can remove the words "in Texas" and your post still works

to Republicans, crimes are only crimes if a Democrat commits them.

[onetexan]

45. THIS!!☝️

[dlk]

98. No kidding!

[moonshinegnomie]

8. of course he was aquitted

the gop loves corruption

[magicarpet]

9. The GOPee,.. the party of gangster-ism and highly questionable ethical conduct.

[asiliveandbreathe]

10. Hooray..let the corruption continue...nice state ya got there Texas...you get who you vote

For...taxpayers pay...Paxton, not so much...

[Lonestarblue]

11. Of course they acquitted him. Republican corruption in Texas just keeps on corrupting.

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. Forget it Jake, it's Texas Town.

[Upthevibe]

25. The_Casual_Observer..............

I get what you're saying there............

It's too effing bad..........

[Deuxcents]

13. I'm shocked 😳

[Wild blueberry]

14. Disgusting

[Fullduplexxx]

15. One of trump's shit hole countries

[underpants]

16. Old boys

[herding cats]

17. Corruption reins supreme in Texas.

[Beachnutt]

18. I guess all the Republican Christian evangelical witnesses

and the legendary texas ranger are all liars.

[dchill]

19. How very Texas.

Corrupt right in your face. Criming is a legitimate endeavor.

[ancianita]

20. A LOT of Koch oil money in Texas, keeping the leadership climate just the way Koch likes it.

[Freethinker65]

21. Time to celebrate by wasting some more TX taxpayer money

I think he definitely needs a taxpayer paid vacation for himself and mistress, perhaps a raise. Some money to harass and threaten those that voted against him?

[dem4decades]

22. I'll never set foot in Texas, and I'll be happy about it

[Freethinker65]

24. Last time I was in TX someone stole $1000 of road trip vacation stuff from my car

Not in any hurry to pass through the hell hole again.

[TexasDem69]

39. Wow

A random crime that could never happen in any other state! I’ve lived in lots of places, and Texas is much better than some, like California, and worse than others, like Virginia.

[Freethinker65]

67. It wasn't so much the theft, but TX LE not particularly giving a fuck.

Happened in Amarillo at a mid priced motel.

Report all done online as LE admitted they really couldn't be bothered with so much higher crime as a priority. I understand that. I was just passing through on the way home from a road trip.

There are other reasons, besides this last event that I avoid TX. I helped move my sister move out of Dallas over twenty years ago. Many would avoid my State of Illinois, except for Chicago, for travel. I understand that. Where you choose to live has little to do with where you want to spend a vacation. I choose not to vacation in TX. There are enough eager tourists to take my place.

And evidently lots of Americans are still moving to TX, and out of Illinois. TX will be just fine without me.

[TexasDem69]

73. All fair points

My objection to these sorts of posts is really that there are a lot of Democrats in Texas, and Alabama, and Montana and every other state that is currently red, and we want to increase the number of Democrats in those states and move them towards a blue government. I lived in Georgia when it was really red but it’s changing now, and recall a red Virginia (and a bellwether Ohio). Broadly shitting on a state because its government is red is counterproductive, as is calling folks redneck, and frankly ignorant.

[Freethinker65]

93. Agree with everything you said

When I moved to Illinois I suddenly had Henry Hyde as my Rep!, so I understand being "blue" in a "red" area.

[flying_wahini]

108. Yes, I agree that when you crap on a whole state with 'give it up' attitudes/practices then the

DNC spends even less time and money trying to turn it around here.

[LoisB]

74. Californian here. Please let me know how Texas is "much better" than CA.

[TexasDem69]

81. Lower cost of living

Significantly lower housing costs. Lower taxes. Fewer government regulations. Better commute (though that’s changing because of all the folks moving to Texas from places like California). And while it’s hotter in Texas that’s only true when compared to coastal California. Much friendlier people. The list goes on and on. San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Francisco are all awesome, yet completely unaffordable. And Disneyland is outstanding, and certainly nothing like it in Texas. But my point is really that it’s irritating when people from California crap on other states who have their own benefits. There are millions of Democrats in Texas who choose to live there. Having lived in both, I’d choose Texas every time.

[LoisB]

91. I guess choice of where to live depends on what is important to the particular person. I have been

to Texas and the racism I experienced was enough to prevent my ever stepping foot in that state again. I don't think Californians crap on other states, we may crap on other states' leaders and/or politics but not the people (at least I don't). There are millions of great people in Texas as in every state in the union.

[TexasDem69]

114. Sorry you had a bad experience

In Texas or anywhere else for that matter.

[Chi67]

117. As a gay man...

...I'll choose Chicago every time. Texas says it doesn't want us, and I choose to listen when a state tells me the first time.

https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/state-of-texas-im-leaving-texas-lgbtq-policies-push-some-to-look-for-an-exit/
https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/lgbtq-texas-lawmakers-scared-tired-of-political-targeting-of-their-community/

No thank you.

[TexasDem69]

118. I hope we can change policy in Texas

And Georgia, Arizona, and other states.

[Chi67]

119. I hope so too

I left my home state of Ohio in 92 for more welcoming Chicago. It made a huge difference in my life. Being a gay man here is just not hard at all. We're treated the same as everyone else. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like had I not moved. And that thought scares me, since it's gotten worse there.

So yeah, I sincerely hope people get it together around the country and stop all the lies and nonsense. It's ugly and unnecessary. The first step is voting out the GOP in as many places as possible, so that they finally understand that hurting others in not a winning strategy.

[PortTack]

90. Agree CA is a great place...I wouldn't live or even vacation in TX for any reason

[Polybius]

110. Better BBQ's are the only reason I can think of

Maybe weather too, if you like heat.

[LoisB]

111. Better BBQ is probably true although I have heard that the BBQ in Kansas City, MO is supposed to be

"the best".

[Polybius]

112. I had a friend move to Texas, hated it so much he was back in under a year

The one thing he loved though was the BBQ's, which he said were hands down the best he has ever had (he's from NYC). Not enough to stay there though.

Oh, I didn't know that about Kansas City, MO. I always thought the best was Oklahoma. I'm sure they're all better BBQ's than here in NYC. Our Italian food is amazing though.

[LoisB]

113. NYC definitely has the best Italian food (IMO).

[Chi67]

120. Same

Also had some friends who moved to Austin and were back in Chicago in a year. I asked why because they seemed so fired up to move to Austin. This was their reply: "There is one street in Austin that is liberal, the rest is Texas." Ouch, and that was in 2009. I really hope Texas can get rid of their GQP government. Because it's going to cost them in the long run if not. It's already costing them medical professionals:

https://19thnews.org/2023/06/abortion-gender-affirming-care-bans-doctors-leaving-texas/#:~:text=%27We%27re%20not%20going%20to,patients%20they%20are%20leaving%20behind.

[Upthevibe]

26. LetMyPeopleVote...........

Disgusting...............

[LeftInTX]

27. It was a sham

[JohnSJ]

28. Texas is definitely gone, and the country is coming very close to it

[orangecrush]

86. This∆

[highplainsdem]

29. Disgusting. But not surprising.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

30. So now do we Taxpayers have to pay the whistleblowers their 3 million dollar lawsuit award?

That’s what Paxton wanted and what set this whole impeachment effort by the house in motion.

Most likely they’ll take even more from the public school budget to pay for this.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

59. No

There was no appropriation. That case will go to trial and Paxton will be on the hook and perhaps the state

[dalton99a]

31. As widely predicted.

The piece of shit will now proceed to more corruption and criminality

[PatrickforB]

32. The Republican state legislators were intimidated by the

Billionaire parasites Tim Dunn, Farris Wilkes and Dan Wilkes. Essentially they threatened the TX GOP senators. Their 'Defend Texas Liberty' super Pac said it will ensure that those senators voting in favor of impeachment will not be reelected.

At issue is that Paxton wants to pass on personal legal fees and fines on to taxpayers. How about that? Sure, I am deeply committed to using my tax dollars to pay fines against Republican politicians who break the law. Heck yeah!

Who allows these billionaires to call the shots on something like this? Oh, that's right! the Federalist Society, funded by yet other billionaire parasites! The Citizens United ruling opened the floodgates for this dark money to undermine everything that is good for Americans on Main Street.

Too bad we can't vote Dunn, the Wilkes Brothers, the Mercers and Charlie Koch out of office...

Oh, that's right! They were not ELECTED to office. Gee, how come they get to have so much power?

Could it be Wall Street? The greed of the few that systematically channels money from our treasury to fewer and fewer people?

AOC, Bernie, Katie Porter and Elizabeth Warren have ALWAYS been right. Every billionaire is in fact a MAJOR failure in tax policy.

We have the government BILLIONAIRE PARASITES want, not the government we deserve.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

34. Lots of truth in there.

[Novara]

35. So it was all a sham. I shouldn't be surprised.

[LoisB]

77. You speak the truth.

[Lonestarblue]

84. Parasites is a kind word to describe those three. They are monsters determined to turn Texas

into a more radical version of Afghanistan. I would not be surprised if they decide that stoning is appropriate for any woman who steps out of line. All are extremist right-wing evangelicals. I forget which one either attends or preaches at a church that forbids women to say anything or to participate in church services.

These three own the governor and the legislature, so whatever backward laws and corrupt schemes they want they get.

[bluestarone]

36. Worst fucking state ( I feel so sorry for our Democratic friends that live there)

[TexasDem69]

42. As mentioned above, I've lived in worst states and visited many worst

California is terrible, other than the great weather in places nobody can afford to live. Wasn’t a fan of New Mexico, Ohio, New Jersey or West Virginia. Northern New York is awesome, at least in the summer.

[kimbutgar]

48. I'm a native California and wouldn't move to Texas if you paid me!

I’ve been toTexas and it’s a horrible place to live. Couldn’t wait to go back to my wonderful Cali!

[TexasDem69]

52. California is awful

And I lived there for 5 years. Massive taxes, rampant crime in the cities, and out of control housing costs. The California cost is outstanding—I’d love to live in Santa Barbara or San Francisco but don’t make $1 million+ a year required for the mortgage, and probably need to make significantly more than that to afford a place where our dogs have some room to run. San Diego is another outstanding place, but again unaffordable. Each to his own.

But it’s better than West Virginia.

[kimbutgar]

56. I live in San Francisco and own a home

I don’t have to deal with red necks or orange maggot cult members like people who live in Texas.

And I don’t earn a million a year.

[TexasDem69]

61. Do you have an acre of yard for dogs to run?

A pool, 5000 sq ft of home? I’ve been to San Francisco many times during the past year and I know the answer to those questions are no. And businesses are fleeing San Francisco because the city can’t control its crime.

And what exactly is a redneck and what’s wrong with them?

[kimbutgar]

80. No but I have a gorgeous view with half an acre

Obviously we should agree to disagree and move on.

If you’re happy in Texas good for you !

[TexasDem69]

82. 👍👍

Yeah, I really like California, and Texas, and Virginia. But the focus should be on electing more Democrats regardless of location.

[electric_blue68]

100. Wait ... What's wrong with NJ? Parts of Northern NJ is nice...

got family there over 70 yrs.

I don't know much of anything re Central, or South NJ.

[Mr. Evil]

37. What a fucking surprise.

Just another republican dog and pony show.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

38. Of course they acquitted him

That's what happens in R super majority states

Now all the crooks in the other Red states have permission to crime and not see justice.

Rs will only vote to impeach Ds

[doc03]

40. I was in Texas once, took the Texarkana exit, as soon as I saw the sign

saying I was entering Texas I took the next exit turned around and left. That gave me 40 states.

[KS Toronado]

41. I hope the Rs in your face "The Hell With the Rule of Law"

bites them in the ass come election day. They're proving they are all FASCISTS.

[Martin68]

43. Why am I not surprised?

[Javaman]

44. Forget it, Jake, it's Texas nt

[Pas-de-Calais]

46. Oh ffs,,,

[kimbutgar]

47. Karma is gonna catch up this sob

Just wait and see…

[LetMyPeopleVote]

60. There will be a trial in Houston on the Securities Fraud issues

This will be fun to watch

Link to tweet

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/ken-paxton-securities-fraud-houston/

Texas’ highest criminal court ruled Wednesday that the securities fraud case against now-suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s should remain in Houston, settling a key issue in the 8-year-old case as Paxton faces an impeachment trial in the Texas Senate this summer.

The Texas Criminal Court of Appeals, in a 6-3 ruling, overturned lower-court decisions that said Paxton’s trial had been improperly moved from Collin County, where he lives, to Harris County because the trial judge had lost jurisdiction over the matter.

However, the Texas Constitution and state law protected the judge’s authority over the case, the court ruled.

“We’re gratified but not surprised that the Court recognized that this defendant must stand trial before a Harris County jury and a judge who will follow the law,” prosecutor Brian Wice said.

[liberalmediaaddict]

50. He's just like Trump

The Republican party's standard bearer is power mad, corrupt and morally bankrupt. No surprise people like Paxton get away with the same abhorrent behavior as Trump.

And Republican voters simply don't give AF.

[Traildogbob]

51. If this riles you up

Wait until Trump and all his CoStars get acquitted of everything.
We don’t have a chance with his cash flow and the owners of the country at his side.

[NBachers]

92. Yep, I was thinking the same thing.

[NoMoreRepugs]

53. Citizens United - the single greatest internal threat to our democracy

EVER.

[Mickju]

54. How sickening!

[BlueIdaho]

55. Party over State.

The corruption of MAGA is staggering.

[iluvtennis]

57. Shameful. All of this corruption has to stop.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

58. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan just blasted the Lt. Gov & GOP Senators for rigging the Paxton trial

Link to tweet

[LudwigPastorius]

94. "...those who allowed him to keep his office will have much to answer for."

HAHHahahahh! Now that's funny.

[surfered]

62. It's ok to be a crook in Texas...

…as long as you’re a Republican.

[Jakes Progress]

69. In Texas that just means you are a republican.

It's a requirement.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

63. After winning impeachment fight, Paxton still faces felony fraud case and an FBI investigation

Paxton is not in the clear. Four impeachment charges were not voted on because these charges were part of pending criminal case that will now be going to trial. Paxton may have a harder time escaping from a Harris County Jury

Link to tweet

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/16/texas-ken-paxton-attorney-general-legal-cases-securities-fbi/

But Paxton’s legal troubles are not over.

He still faces state securities fraud charges, a case that has stretched out for eight years and counting, starting with an indictment just months after he took office in 2015. The case has been delayed for years by pretrial disputes — including a back-and-forth battle over the trial venue that saw it moved to Houston from Collin County, which Paxton represented as a state lawmaker.

And Paxton has been under investigation by the FBI since October 2020, although no charges have been filed.

Federal investigators began their investigation after several top Paxton deputies went to the FBI and alleged the attorney general had committed crimes, including bribery, while trying to help his friend and political donor, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. Justice Department prosecutors who typically handle high-profile public corruption cases took over the case in February.

Federal law experts and former prosecutors contacted by The Texas Tribune say the impeachment result isn’t likely to alter the course of Paxton’s securities fraud case. As far as the FBI investigation, they said, witness testimony in the impeachment hearings could help federal officials evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their case......

According to the Associated Press, federal prosecutors and a grand jury heard testimony from witnesses including Drew Wicker, who served as Paxton’s former personal aide and testified during the impeachment trial that he heard Paxton and a contractor discuss the cost of proposed changes to the renovations at Paxton’s Austin home.

[Mike Niendorff]

64. Yet another example ...

... of how impeachment is a failed remedy.

In order to succeed, it literally requires a political party to police itself. And in the absence of that, it fails.


MDN

[Ligyron]

65. Like Trump's impeachment, it was glaringly obvious he was guilty as all hell.

But with R's, it doesn't matter one iota how guilty they are anymore...or how obvious their guilt is to all concerned. They don't care about appearances nowadays, they'll crime away right in the open and practically dare anyone or any institution to hold them accountable.

The entire party is not just corrupt they are a criminal organization top to bottom and if we don't do something it will be the end of Democracy.

Hell, it might already be too late.

[Jakes Progress]

66. I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you.

[LymphocyteLover]

68. Mind-numbing corruption-- this party is just lost

[Hermit-The-Prog]

70. Wednesday is when I became convinced the fix was in...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100218270133
According to that, "Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is acting as the trial’s judge, said toward the end of the day that Olson would not testify after all."

[Evolve Dammit]

71. The Good Ole Boys. Blues Brothers, only not funny.

[TNNurse]

72. Not sure why they even bothered.

Texas is so corrupt, no one should be surprised.

[tornado34jh]

75. Let Mother Nature do its work

Their power grid is separated from the rest of the country. As we saw this summer and when they had that big freeze a few years ago, they can't handle it. When it happens again, Texas should not get any help from the federal government. Joe Biden should just tell them they are on their own, let their corrupt government handle it. See how long they will last before they will be crying for help. I feel bad for people that are there that are democratic and are dealing with a corrupt government and have voted against it, but other than that, you get what you deserve when you elect people like this.

[ashredux]

78. It's really simple, crooks will vote for a crook.... Texting may have some receipts.

[TexasBushwhacker]

79. I'm still trying to figure out how so many in the House voted to impeach him

But so few in the Senate vote to convict him. The House is 56% Republican, the Senate is 61%. Only 2 Republican senators voted to convict. Plenty of the reps voted to impeach.

[LudwigPastorius]

95. "(Why did) so many in the House vote to impeach him but so few in the Senate vote to convict him"

Cash payments

[tonekat]

83. Phew! I can smell the corruption

in Tex-Ass from here in New England!

Justice available to those who can pay for it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

85. Texas Democratic Party Statement on the Acquittal of Indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton

Link to tweet

[Paladin]

109. Skip the statement.

Try running the state party in a competent fashion. For a change.

[Skittles]

87. the bar in Texas continues to sink into the mud

just disgusting

[ificandream]

88. I wonder who paid these people off.

I was surprised when Paxton got impeached and by Republicans no less. Something smelled wrong. And it was.

[atreides1]

89. Lt Governor Patrick paid them off

With the 3 million dollars he got from Paxton before this show trial even began!!!

[Initech]

96. BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[orangecrush]

99. Hard to believe that

An entire governing body could be completely corrupt.

[cstanleytech]

101. The Republicans know full well that he wouldn't be convicted.

[summer_in_TX]

102. The prosecution made serious mistakes.

Including appearing to rest, so the judge ruled they had rested.

Then when they should have laid out all the evidence during their jury summation, they cut it way short, letting the defense lay out their case, with nothing left for the prosecution to do but rebut it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

103. Paxton's Acquittal Has Nothing to Do With Justice--and Everything With Money

Paxton won due to campaign contributions and his financial backers,

Link to tweet

https://www.thedailybeast.com/paxtons-acquittal-has-nothing-to-do-with-justiceand-everything-with-money

Kudos to Paxton’s lawyers, but he’s back in office thanks largely to a multi-million dollar juror intimidation campaign paid for by Defend Texas Liberty, a Texas campaign PAC funded largely by oil and gas millionaires Tim Dunn and Faris Wilks.

Dunn and Wilks, through their PAC, made generous contributions to decision-makers, paid for old-school mailers and billboards to intimidate rural Texas senators sitting as jurors in the Texas Senate Court of Impeachment, and set aside a handsome budget to pay $50 a tweet to eligible social media trolls who tweeted or posted pro-Paxton propaganda. It was common in the weeks leading up to and during the two-week trial to see hundreds of freshly enrolled members of the X community (with fewer than ten followers) who robustly defended their martyred MAGA attorney general.

Presiding Judge Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (he’s neither a lawyer nor a judge) collected a $1 million dollar campaign contribution and a $2 million forgivable loan from Defend Texas Liberty back in June before the trial, and inquiring minds want to know what the loan terms are. Whatever the terms, one thing is for sure: If the campaign contribution was made by its donors to encourage a certain outcome, and to advertise the power of their purse for any senators who stray off script, the contributions seem to have had the desired effect.,,,,

The Texas Senate’s vote today sends a different message: “Facts, conscience and doing the right thing don’t matter. Power and money are all you need to win.”

There are politicians who make their political careers about personal power and enrichment, and they’ll be damned if anyone is going to knock them off their throne. These people make life miserable for many, dividing the people, while making money off the experience. That description fits Paxton, the disgraced MAGA martyr, and now freshly-restored-to-power Texas Attorney General.

There is polling that shows that if Joe Jaworski was the Democratic candidate for AG, Paxton would had lost.

[Roy Rolling]

104. Justice Republican Style

He was judged by a jury of his criminal gang.

[Ray Bruns]

105. I'm shocked, shocked! Well, not that shocked.

https://m.

[Cyberologist]

106. The Good Old Boys Network: I never expected him to be found guilty.

He also faces a securities fraud trial for two felony charges he was indicted on in 2015.
Discussion on a trial date is suspended until October.

[malthaussen]

107. "In the end, senators were unpersuaded."

In the beginning, they'd already made up their minds.

But not being a Texan, I do find it curious that House and Senate Republicans were so divided on this issue. One speculates that the House is full of smaller fry who don't reap the same level of benefits as those in the Senate.

-- Mal

[LetMyPeopleVote]

115. For this thread

Link to tweet

[LetMyPeopleVote]

116. Pro-Paxton group gives $3 million to impeachment trial judge Dan Patrick

Dan Patrick was bribed before the trial

Link to tweet

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/18/ken-paxton-impeachment-dan-patrick/

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is presiding over the impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, received $3 million in campaign support last month from a top group campaigning against Paxton’s impeachment.

In a campaign-finance report published Tuesday, Patrick — who is not up for reelection until 2026 — reported a $1 million contribution and a $2 million loan from Defend Texas Liberty PAC. The political action committee was by far his biggest benefactor on the report, which covered Patrick’s fundraising from June 19-30. It was the first opportunity state officials had to fundraise since the House impeached Paxton in late May.

Patrick’s Senate has scheduled a trial to begin Sept. 5 to determine whether to permanently remove Paxton from office. Patrick has been acting as presiding officer of the trial — effectively the judge — and the fundraising period partially overlapped with the Senate’s deliberations over the trial rules. The chamber approved the rules June 21.

The news of the PAC's financial support came the day after Patrick followed through on a requirement in the rules and issued a sweeping gag order on all parties involved in the trial.