After signaling that he would call for an audit into the Paxton impeachment trial expenses shortly after the verdict on Saturday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has now officially made the request.
In a letter to state auditor Lisa Collier, Patrick asks for all expenditures incurred by the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate, and the Office of the Attorney General from March 1, 2023 through October 15, 2023.
“To be clear, the goal is to determine the absolute total cost to the state of preparing for and conducting this trial from the beginning through its conclusion,” wrote Patrick. “This must detail all expenses, including but not limited to, investigators expenses, document production and assembly, attorney expenses, witness fees, travel, food and lodging. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Please determine and report on all expenses; if there are invoices outstanding, we seek to know what they are and when they will be received.”
Patrick has been vocally critical of the House-led impeachment since the trial concluded on Saturday, criticizing the House for rushing through the process and not following proper procedure in interviewing witnesses. To that end, he has called for a constitutional amendment to reform the impeachment process.
“An impeachment should never happen again in the House like it happened this year,” said Patrick.
State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian) sent a similar audit request to Collier on Monday as well.
“Hard working, over-taxed Texans deserve to know how much of their money was WASTED by the #Txlege House on the #PaxtonImpeachmentTrial,” Harrison posted on X.
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