Incumbent Republicans forced into runoffs have had to message against one of the biggest lines of attacks from their primary opponents—the fact that they all supported the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton.
But while most have stuck to a similar script (often claiming they were only “sending the issue” to the Senate where he was exonerated on all counts), State Rep. Frederick Frazier (R–McKinney) has taken a new tact: falsely claiming that Paxton’s office refused to participate in the House Committee’s investigation before impeachment.
When asked about his impeachment vote during a podcast hosted by the Texas Municipal Police Association, Frazier said he only had one side of the story to make his decision.
“You had 22 articles there for impeachment, and you had nothing from the attorney general’s office,” said Frazier.
When asked if that was intentional, Frazier claimed, “His office chose not to participate in the committee hearings.” He went on to say that voters are surprised when he tells him this.
This statement, however, is patently untrue, as Paxton’s office was never notified of the investigation.
When news of the incoming impeachment broke during the committee’s only public hearing on the issue just days before the House vote, Assistant Attorney General Chris Hilton rushed to the committee room, where he was denied the opportunity to participate.
Paxton told Texas Scorecard Frazier’s comment was “a complete lie.”
“I was never afforded due process when Dade Phelan launched his secret impeachment plot. Numerous House members vocalized their opposition to this scheme because it was such an outrageous abuse of power, and Rep. Frazier knows this. Hopefully, the voters of his district will send him home,” said Paxton.
Mitch Little—one of the attorneys representing Paxton during the Senate impeachment trial and an incoming member of the Texas House—said Frazier needed to “correct this lie.”
“It’s either out of ignorance or it’s intentional. I’m not sure which, but it doesn’t matter. You need to correct this statement,” Little wrote on X.
“The secrecy of the inquiry and the Committee’s refusal to allow the AG’s office to participate is SO WELL-DOCUMENTED at this point that I have a difficult time believing you don’t know about it,” he added.
The comments come as Frazier faces a turbulent runoff election against opponent Keresa Richardson. Frazier is notable for being dishonorably discharged from the Dallas Police Department after pleading guilty to criminal mischief involving an opponent’s campaign signs.
Frazier did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment.
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