Austin, Texas– Today, Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) issued the following guidance for the official Texas Senate Journal, to provide guidance for future lawmakers on impeachment proceedings:

“Earlier today, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on all sixteen (16) articles of impeachment, at the conclusion of the first Texas impeachment trial of a statewide elected official in over 105 years.

I believe there is no greater duty an office holder has than to serve the public with the highest of ethical standards, and I believe in the constitutional process and procedure that is necessary to hold those accountable who fail to do so.

I believe that every individual is innocent until proven guilty, and that allegations must be proven with actual evidence that leaves no reasonable doubt, at the conclusion of that evidence being considered. After 45 hours of testimony, not a single article received a majority of Senators support, and the threshold to convict was never met.

I am amazed and continue to be impressed with my fellow Texas Senators on how hard they worked, day and night, to make sure that they were prepared, and that no stone was left unturned to find the truth.

The Texas Senate had an obligation to accomplish these duties with the highest level of integrity, impartiality, and fairness. With Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presiding, and retired Justice Lana Myers of the Fifth Court of Appeals assisting, I’m convinced that this objective was accomplished.

Attorney General Ken Paxton will now resume his duties, as he should.

I will be working through the weekend to publish additional comments for the official Senate Journal Impeachment trial record, and I will make that journal entry public, as soon as they are completed. God bless Texas.”

###