A key accuser has made a stunning admission in a trial regarding the impeachment of Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.
On the trial’s third day, “a former deputy attorney general who was fired for insubordination, and who later sued claiming wrongful termination, said he and other former staffers had no evidence to support their claim that Paxton allegedly committed a crime,” Just the News reported.
The 20 articles of impeachment, presented by the House General Investigating Committee, are founded on testimonies given by three witnesses, among others, during the ongoing impeachment trial. The charges encompass accusations of bribery, abuse of public trust, and being unfit for office, among other allegations. Four articles have been temporarily withheld.
On September 30, 2020, before either being terminated or resigning, former OAG personnel lodged a complaint with the FBI, suggesting that Paxton might have been involved in a potential criminal act related to Austin real estate developer Nate Paul.
During Thursday’s proceedings, one of the dismissed employees, former deputy attorney general for legal counsel Ryan Vassar, provided testimony stating that he and his colleagues lacked any evidence to substantiate the complaint they submitted to the FBI.
Their complaint serves as the foundation for the impeachment articles, Just the News noted further.
The admission was made during cross-examination by Mitch Little, one of Paxton’s attorneys.
“Did you tell the FBI that Attorney General Paxton had legally disclosed confidential material to someone, yes or no?” Little asked.
“I disagree with the phrasing of the question,” Vassar replied. “We alleged illegal activity could occur.”
“But you didn’t know that Paxton had disclosed anything to anyone?” Little asked.
“No,” Vassar responded.
“You were hoping the FBI would sort it out,” Little went on.
“We had formed a belief in good faith that the attorney general was engaged in illegal activity,” Vassar said.
“But you didn’t know,” Little noted further.
“That’s the point. We had no evidence that we could point to but had reasonable conclusions that we could draw,” Vassar responded.
“Let me get this straight. You went to the FBI and reported him for potential crimes without any evidence? Do I have that correct?” Little asked.
“We went to the FBI based on our belief that criminal activity had occurred,” Vassar replied.
“That was not my question,” Little pointed out.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is presiding over the impeachment trial, interjected at that point and instructed Vassar, “Please answer the question, yes or no.”
Then Little repeated his question: “I want to get this straight. You went to the FBI on Sept. 30 with your compatriots and reported the elected attorney general of the state for a crime without any evidence. Yes?”
“That’s right,” Vassar replied. “We took no evidence.”
“Did you gain any after that?” Little asked.
“We weren’t collecting any evidence,” Vassar said, adding: “Evidence of what?”
“Evidence of a crime committed by the attorney general elected by 4.3 million people,” Little directed.
“I don’t recall,” Vassar said.
“Don’t you think that’s something you should recall?” Little demanded, per Just the News, which added:
Little also addressed several of the charges levied in the articles of impeachment.
Regarding Article 1, Little asked Vassar if he knew anything about the Mitte Foundation and the state statute cited in the article. Vassar replied, “I don’t know anything about it.”
Regarding Article 2 alleging Paxton misused his office to benefit Nate Paul related to real estate property he allegedly owned, Little asked Vassar, “you don’t know for sure” if the property “belonged to Nate Paul, do you?”
Vassar replied, “Nothing other than what’s been reported in the media.”
“You don’t know if this article is true, do you?” Little went on to ask.
“No sir, I didn’t write this,” Vassar said.
Article 4 alleges that Paxton “illegally” obtained information from his own office, which led Little to ask: Paxton “didn’t properly access anything in office?”
“No, not what I’m aware of,” Vassar responded.
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