Paxton’s defense also said the Texas Senate should toss out the impeachment articles because the allegations happened before Paxton’s most recent election.

They call it the “prior-term doctrine.” Paxton’s lawyers cite the Texas Constitution and say only offenses that happened after November 2022 — Paxton’s most recent election — could be grounds for impeachment.

But the Texas Constitution is not that explicit. It only says a person cannot be impeached for offenses committed before their election to office. It doesn’t specify if that means their first election to a position or their most recent reelection.

“Those crimes are so last year!”

• Ken Paxton