The latest attorney that has been added to the prosecution team leading the impeachment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has a record of contributing to his political opponent.
Harriet O’Neill, who formerly served on the Supreme Court of Texas, was announced as the third member of the House’s prosecution team, joining Houston attorneys Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin. In an announcement, O’Neill said she was looking forward to the trial, saying, “The facts in this case are clear, compelling and decisive, and I look forward to presenting them before the members of the Texas Senate.”
Campaign finance records reveal, however, that this is not the first time O’Neill has opposed Paxton.
In June of 2021, O’Neill gave $2,500 to Eva Guzman in her campaign to oust Paxton in the Republican primary election.
Guzman, also a former Supreme Court of Texas justice, came in third in the race despite raising the most campaign cash: $8.3 million. Almost half came from the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC ($2.6 million) and TLR founder Richard Weekley ($1.1 million).
Additionally, O’Neill contributed to the campaign of Tommy Merritt against Sid Miller for agriculture commissioner in 2014. Merritt was rated as one of the most liberal Republican lawmakers when he served in the Texas House.
Taxpayers will be on the hook for the prosecutors’ payments—$500 an hour plus expenses.
As of publishing, O’Neill had not responded to a request for comment on whether the donation represented a conflict of interest.
The trial is scheduled to begin on September 5 in the Texas Senate to determine whether Paxton will be removed from office.
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