Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial: Senate begins deliberations

Austin, Texas — The Texas Senate on Friday morning began deliberating in the impeachment trial of state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who will be removed from office if he is convicted of any of the 16 articles of impeachment.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told the 30 state senators who are acting as jurors that they could leave only to go home at night and were not to speak to anyone about the trial or watch any news coverage. If a verdict is not reached by Sunday evening, he said he would consider sequestering the senators.

The articles of impeachment include bribery and abuse of public trust. Paxton, who attended the trial on the first day and the last day, pleaded not guilty last week. He has denied all wrongdoing.