Posted on 09/11/2023 4:41:12 AM PDT by Twotone
AUSTIN, Texas — The third day of the impeachment trial of suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton featured witnesses who were troubled by their former boss's behavior and reported their suspicions to the FBI.
Two witnesses, Ryan Bangert and Ryan Vassar, spoke of the pressure they were put under in 2020 to stay loyal to Paxton or face retribution for reporting actions they believed put their office in extreme legal jeopardy.
Vassar, a former attorney general staffer, wiped tears from his face when testifying about the fallout of reporting Paxton to the FBI.
He said it was "hurtful" that Paxton referred to him and other whistleblowers as "rogue" employees.
"This statement of being rogue is contrary to the years that I dedicated my life to the state," said Vassar, pausing when a tissue was delivered to him on the witness stand.
Vassar was among four former staffers part of a $3.3 million settlement agreement with Paxton. Under the terms announced in February, Paxton agreed to the payout and to issue an apology to the employees who accused him of corruption in 2020 to the FBI.
Ken Paxton 'doing great' amid trial, says wife
State Sen. Angela Paxton told the Washington Examiner Thursday afternoon that although her husband has not been present since the first day of the trial on Tuesday, he has been doing very well.
"I think he's doing great," Paxton said during a conversation at the Capitol.
When asked about the defense legal team's efforts during the trial and how she felt about the events, the senator said, "It is what it is," and smiled.
Angela Paxton is a third-term state senator from a wealthy suburb north of Dallas, roughly a three-hour drive from Austin. The Paxtons have been married since 1986 and have four children.
The trial is centered on the attorney general's legal help to real estate developer Nate Paul, who prosecutors alleged paid Ken Paxton back by doing expensive home renovations at the couple's residence in Austin and hiring a woman with whom Ken Paxton was allegedly having an affair.
Lead defense attorney Tony Buzbee attacked the press ahead of the third day of the trial and claimed to have been victimized by an allegedly manipulated image captured during the trial.
The Houston-based trial lawyer posted pictures to his public Instagram account moments before the trial commenced Thursday morning, suggesting to his more than 50,000 followers that the journalists and photographers had an agenda to target him by undermining his appearance.
“Here are two pics from two different reputable news organizations, taken on the same day, within minutes of the other. I am out in the sun a lot, but I don’t think my skin has ever been that ‘tan,’” Buzbee wrote, then suggested an unnamed news outlet had edited the screenshot to make him look less appealing.
“Why would they doctor my pic? I’m sure you could take a guess,” Buzbee wrote. “So you think the news isn’t bias? Think again.”
The first photograph was taken by Associated Press photographer Eric Gay on Tuesday. The second picture, which Buzbee did not credit, appeared to have been captured on Wednesday when Buzbee returned to the Capitol noticeably tanner than the previous day.
Buzbee declined to speak with the Washington Examiner at the Capitol Thursday afternoon.
Paxton is certainly GUILTY of not firing the snowflake staff!
If you can't be loyal to your boss, why were you there? A plant for the Deep State?
The punishment is supposed to be the process but now we know whomever is indicted by the deep state is the person we should support.
Remember how the “staff” undercut President Trump at every turn.
Paxton paid 5.2 million to the snowflake. There’s a reason he did that. You don’t just give money to people freely and apologized as well.
Sounds like Paxton’s staff was a bunch of CRYBABY P*SSIES. In Texas (okay Austin) of all places??
Not really following this and don’t don’t really care, but when “men” get on the stand and testify in court that things that were done were hurtful (hurt their feelings) and then cry LIKE A LITTLE BABY, I have ZERO sympathy and even less respect for them being men.
Sorry, I felt Snowflake was too kind of a description. Pansy Ass Sissy Generation !!!
Apparently the affair was disclosed to staff in 2018. How then could Paxton be blackmailed over this disclosed ended affair?
It’s an act. They’re crybullies working for the Bush family.
He hurt their feelings so he should hang.
A ping out to the Texas Ping list, founded by Windflier.
Another discussion on the persecution of Ken Paxton by the media and the .....
Another special Texas summer edition for your perusal.
As always, please FReepmail me if you want on or off the Texas Ping list.
Blessings, and stay cool!
Amen.
Hope he gets a therapy dog, counseling, drugs, etc. to deal with his trauma... my gosh, what a wuss.
Paxton will come out of this relatively unscathed. The RINO’s, on the other hand, are a different story. The “little biotches” initiated and foisted this travesty upon the taxpayers of Texas and as a result will face the voters in the next election cycle. Good riddance, I say.
Vassar admitted on cross examination that Paxton is not guilty of the charges they went to the FBI with without any evidence.
I don’t know what to think of this. I know that Buzbee is a big time plaintiffs lawyer. BIG time. I know the social cons love Paxton. I do think that an AG’s staff is sworn to uphold the law/constitution, not “do what the boss says”. I know that Trump has indicated support for the AG, and I know that Rick Perry wrote yesterday that he should be gone.
So....I don’t really know. I wouldn’t mind some intelligent, truth-seeking posts about this from people who have more informed opinions to offer.
(I also know very conservative legislators who supported the impeachment, and some who didn’t).
If only they were “rogue”. They were Bush Inc operatives.
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!
These hearings have steered away from the charges against the AG and onto the actions of the staffers.
They went to the FBI with water cooler gossip and zero evidence, and you know what the FBI can do when they get a sic em.
They’ve been raised on estrogen laced food stuffs. Be nice to the soy boys!
Texas Fossil has a trial thread that is helpful.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4180657/posts
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