Paxton Backers Dump $3 Million On TX Lt Gov, Who Will Oversee Paxton’s Impeachment Trial In State Senate

Dallas’s NBC affiliate reports:

Defend Texas Liberty PAC has urged Republican lawmakers to vote against removing impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton. Campaign records published Tuesday show the group also gave a $1 million donation and a $2 million loan to the presiding officer over the Paxton case in the Texas Senate — Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.

Luke Macias, director of Defend Texas Liberty PAC, told NBC 5 the donation was to support Patrick’s work this past legislative session. Government watchdogs, however, said their eyebrows went up when they saw the donation to Patrick. “I’m astounded that Patrick took the money,” said Craig Holman from the left-leaning consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.

Defend Texas Liberty PAC is largely funded by conservative oil and gas executives. CEO of CrownQuest Operating Tim Dunn gave the group $2 million. Farris and Jo Ann Wilks, successful fracking company owners, gave $1.5 million.

Read the full article.

Last night Rachel Maddow teed off on the donation in her usual fashion, noting that Patrick isn’t even up for reelection until 2026. Watch the clip.

“Here’s the thing I can’t believe is real, but it is.” @maddow reports on a curious $3 million donation to Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, the presiding judge in the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. pic.twitter.com/YJ63I1bQPs

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 25, 2023