>>> TO TEXAS NOW, WHERE THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL FACES AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

KEN PAXTON WAS IMPEACHED BY THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN MAY ON ALLEGATIONS INCLUDING BRIBERY AND ABUSE OF OFFICE.

SCOTT BRADDOCK IS EDITOR OF THE QUORUM REPORT, A NEWS SERVICE DEDICATED TO COVERING TEXAS POLITICS, AND HE'S JOINING HARI SREENIVASAN TO DISCUSS HOW THIS WILL AFFECT THE STATE AND BEYOND.

>> CHRISTIANE, THANKS.

SCOTT BRADDOCK, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU'RE SOMEONE BASED IN TEXAS.

YOU'VE BEEN COVERING STATE LEGISLATURE IN POLITICS FOR YEARS AND YEARS NOW.

NEXT WEEK WE ARE HEADING INTO AN IMPEACHMENT OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL, KEN PAXTON.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT'S HE BEING ACCUSED OF, AND WHY IS THIS SO SIGNIFICANT?

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS HE'S ACCUSED OF DEEP-SEATED CORRUPTION, BASICALLY TAKING THAT OFFICE AND USING IT AS A PERSONAL CONCIERGE FIRM FOR ONE OF HIS POLITICAL CONTRIBUTORS.

THERE IS AN ALLEGATION OF A MISTRESS HERE.

THAT'S TIED TO A LOT OF THE ALLEGATIONS.

OF COURSE BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF THE TOP ALLIES OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, THERE'S A LOT OF NATIONAL INTEREST AROUND THE U.S. AS WELL.

>> SO WHAT IS IT THAT KICKED OFF THE TEXAS HOUSE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> THIS IS FASCINATING BECAUSE THE SUPPORTERS OF KEN PAXTON WILL SAY THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AGAINST HIM WERE MADE BEFORE HE WAS RE-ELECTED LAST YEAR, AND SOME OF THAT IS TRUE.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S ACCUSED OF WERE KNOWN TO VOTERS BOTH IN THE MARCH PRIMARY LAST YEAR AND THE GENERAL ELECTION AS WELL.

BUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT IS THAT HE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE IN HIS OFFICE WHO BASICALLY TOLD ON HIM TO FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS.

THEY BLEW THE WHISTLE ON WHAT THEY SAID WAS CORRUPTION IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

THOSE ROCK-RIBBED CONSERVATIVE ATTORNEYS WHO ENDED UP LOSING THEIR JOBS AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THEY HAVE BEEN IN SETTLEMENT TALKS WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, VIOLATION OF WHAT IS THE WHISTLE-BLOWER ACT IN THE STATE, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF RETALIATION AGAINST THOSE EMPLOYEES IN HIS OFFICE.

WELL, HE HAD ASKED FOR TEXAS TAXPAYERS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THE $3 MILLION SETTLEMENTS TO SETTLE UP WITH THESE WHISTLE-BLOWERS, AND WHEN HE WAS ASKED BY THE LEGISLATURE WHY TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT, HE WOULDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

SO THE TEXAS HOUSE TOOK AN INVESTIGATION UNDER ITS OWN AUSPICES, AND THEY BASICALLY SET OUT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THEMSELVES, TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS MONEY SHOULD BE PAID TO THESE PEOPLE, AND NOT ONLY TEXAS HOUSE REPUBLICANS SAY THAT, NO, TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T BE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT.

THEY SAID INSTEAD, WHAT WE FOUND HERE IS SUCH DEEP-SEATED CORRUPTION THAT NOT ONLY SHOULD WE NOT PAY THE MONEY, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO IMPEACH THIS GUY AND THROW HIM OUT OF OFFICE.

>> GIVE US SOME PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST POWERFUL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE.

BUT KEN PAXTON HAS HAD AN OUTSIZED REPUTATION OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

WHY?

>> NUMBER ONE, AROUND THE COUNTRY HE WOULD BE KNOWN AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WAS THERE AT JANUARY 6th BEFORE THAT RIOT BROKE OUT, THAT VIOLENT INSURRECTION IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SORT OF EGGING ON THE CROWD.

BUT KEEP IN MIND HE'S ALSO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY TO LEAD THE CHARGE WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TRIED TO OVERTURN ELECTION RESULTS IN OTHER STATES.

HE SORT OF MADE THIS FIGHT AGAINST WHAT HE CALLS VOTER FRAUD AND OTHERS CALL VOTER FRAUD WHEN REALLY IT'S MAYBE THE OTHER WAY AROUND IRONICALLY, HE'S MADE THAT A CENTERPIECE OF HIS CAMPAIGNS.

SO HE'S BECOME VERY WELL KNOWN FOR THAT.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER CHARACTERS IN THIS.

AFTER THAT INVESTIGATION, THERE'S A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, A MISTRESS.

KIND OF LAY OUT THE PLAYING CARDS SO TO SPEAK.

>> IF YOU PUT ALL THIS IN A MOVIE AND YOU WATCHED THAT, YOU WOULD SAY, THERE'S NO WAY THIS COULD HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE.

BUT THIS IS TEXAS POLITICS.

THERE'S AN OLD SAYING IN TEXAS, WHICH IS IF YOU AIN'T INDICTED, YOU AIN'T INVITED.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE AT THE TOP WHO HAVE BEEN IN LEGAL HOT WATER BEFORE.

THERE IS THE ALLEGATION THAT HE HAD A MISTRESS, AND THE WAY THAT THIS PLAYED OUT ACCORDING TO TEXAS HOUSE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS, THE PROSECUTORS IN THE CASE, TURNS OUT THAT IT LOOKED KIND OF LIKE "MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE."

YOU HAD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ACCUSED OF USING BURNER PHONES AND UBER ACCOUNTS, USING A FAKE NAME, WHICH WAS "DAVE P." THAT HE AND THIS CONTRIBUTOR, NATE PAUL, THAT THEY SHARED THE UBER ACCOUNT WAS USED TO DO THINGS LIKE TAKE PAXTON TO AND FROM HIS MISTRESS' APARTMENTS HERE IN AUSTIN.

THAT'S THE ALLEGATION, AND BURNER PHONES WERE BEING USED TO COVER UP THE EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR.

AND OF COURSE THE PROSECUTORS IN THE CASE SUGGESTED THAT, HEY, LOOK, EVEN IF PEOPLE THINK THAT HIS PERSONAL AFFAIRS, HIS PERSONAL LIFE, THAT THAT DOESN'T MATTER, OBVIOUSLY PAXTON CARED ENOUGH TO TRY TO KEEP IT FROM PEOPLE.

THE DEGREE TO WHICH HE WENT AND THE LENGTHS HE WENT TO TO TRY TO KEEP IT SECRET IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS HERE AS WELL, AND THIS IS THE WAY THE IMPEACHMENT MANAGERS DESCRIBED IT.

THEY SAID THAT FOR THIS CHARACTER, NATE PAUL, WHO IS A DEVELOPER HERE IN AUSTIN, AN INVESTOR, THIS GUY, PAUL, BASICALLY GOT THE ADVANTAGE THAT NOBODY ELSE IN TEXAS WOULD GET, WHICH IS TO HAVE THE OAG, THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AT HIS BECK AND CALL DOING WHATEVER HE WANTED, WHENEVER HE WANTED, INCLUDING -- AND THIS IS INSANE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

THE ALLEGATION FROM THE WHISTLE-BLOWERS, ONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS IS THAT PAXTON HIRED AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY FROM HOUSTON TO RUN INTERFERENCE ON AN FBI INVESTIGATION OF THAT INVESTOR.

AND I SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN HERE IN TOWN HAS REPORTED THERE IS A FEDERAL GRAND JURY THAT'S CONVENED IN SAN ANTONIO TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF ALL OF THAT.

>> HAVE THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER OR THE ALLEGED MISTRESS -- HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO ANY OF THIS?

>> NO.

>> OR I GUESS PREEMPTIVELY TO WHAT MIGHT BE ON THE STAND NEXT WEEK?

>> NO.

IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THEY SAY OR DON'T SAY, WHAT QUESTIONS THEY ANSWER AND WHAT QUESTIONS THEY DON'T ANSWER WHEN THEY ARE ON THE STAND.

LOOK, THE LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDING THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT, IT IS A PROCEEDING IN WHICH YOU CAN BE COMPELLED TO TESTIFY.

THEY CAN'T JUST NOT SHOW UP.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

IN FACT, YOU CAN BE JAILED FOR A YEAR FOR REFUSING TO TESTIFY TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

AND SO A LOT OF TRUTH MAY COME OUT IF THIS IS A FAIR AND OPEN TRIAL AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS PROMISED IT WILL BE.

>> OKAY.

SO TO ADD TO THE DRAMA HERE, HIS WIFE IS A STATE SENATOR, AND SHE'S GOING TO BE SITTING FOR THE TRIAL.

>> YEAH.

HIS WIFE, ANGELA PAXTON, THE STATE SENATOR FROM NORTH TEXAS, SHE WILL BE THERE FOR THE TRIAL, BUT THEY'VE HAD TO KIND OF THREAD THE NEEDLE ON THIS.

THESE IMPEACHMENTS, AS YOU KNOW, DON'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.

SO WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE AN IMPEACHMENT EXPERT?

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE REALLY -- THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD ONE IN THE HISTORY OF TEXAS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THESE SENATORS, YOU GOT TO BREAK OUT THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.

THAT'S THE OWNER'S MANUAL, DUST IT OFF AND SEE WHAT IT SAYS.

AND IT SAYS THAT SENATORS HAVE TO SIT FOR THE TRIAL, AND IT SAYS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF SENATORS ARE REQUIRED, TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE PRESENT ARE REQUIRED TO VOTE TO REMOVE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> SO SHE DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST HER HUSBAND?

>> WELL, SHE'S NOT GOING TO GET TO VOTE AT ALL.

THE SENATE, IN TRYING TO THREAD THIS NEEDLE, WHAT THEY ESTABLISHED AS PART OF THEIR RULES IS SHE'LL GET TO SIT FOR THE TRIAL, BUT SHE DOESN'T GET TO BE IN ON THEIR PRIVATE DELIBERATIONS, AND SHE DOESN'T GET TO VOTE.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A CAVEAT HERE.

THE FACT THAT SHE SITS FOR THE TRIAL MEANS THAT THE THRESHOLD FOR REMOVING HER HUSBAND, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, STAYS AT 21 VOTES.

IN THE TEXAS SENATE THERE ARE 31 MEMBERS AND TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE PRESENT WOULD BE 21.

IF SHE WAS NOT ON THE FLOOR WHEN THEY VOTED, THEN THE THRESHOLD WOULD GO DOWN TO 20.

SO HER BEING THERE, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF DOES HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE PROCEEDINGS.

>> THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR USUALLY OVERSEES THESE, AND THIS IS DAN PATRICK, REPUBLICAN.

ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

DOES IT COME DOWN TO ANY SORT OF A TIEBREAKER SCENARIO WHERE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MIGHT HAVE INFLUENCE?

>> WELL, HE DOESN'T GET TO VOTE IN THIS.

HE DOES GET TO BE THE JUDGE AS YOU SUGGEST.

HE SORT OF ACTS AS THE JURIST IN THE TRIAL.

IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL SPECTACLE TO SEE THIS PLAY OUT NEXT WEEK.

THERE IS CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.

THERE ARE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST EVERYWHERE.

FOR EXAMPLE, JUST BEFORE THE TRIAL, YOU DID HAVE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ACCEPT $3 MILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SOME SUPPORTERS OF KEN PAXTON.

THERE'S A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE HERE CALLED DEFEND TEXAS LIBERTY PAC, AND THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING BILLBOARDS, TEXT MESSAGES, AND ROBOCALLS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, TRYING TO DEFEND PAXTON AND SAY THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED.

THAT SAME GROUP, GIVING THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR $3 MILLION, $2 MILLION OF WHICH WAS A LOAN, THAT'S BEEN A SOURCE OF CONSTERNATION FOR THE SENATORS.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AT LEAST A FEW OF THEM HAVE GONE TO PATRICK AND SAID, DON'T YOU THINK THAT LOOKS AT LEAST LIKE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

AND IT'S BEEN MY REPORTING THAT WHAT HE TOLD THEM WAS HE DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT, AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY ELSE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

I WOULD ASK THIS.

FOR THE $2 MILLION THAT'S A LOAN, WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR THAT?

IF THE TRIAL GOES A CERTAIN WAY, IS THE LOAN FORGIVEN?

WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> WOW.

SO YOU COULD HAVE A TRIAL WHERE THE PERSON PRESIDING OVER IT CAN TAKE $2 MILLION OR $3 MILLION FROM PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE PERSON ON TRIAL, AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?

OKAY.

>> AND I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY NEED THE MONEY.

EVEN IF HE DIDN'T ACCEPT THE $3 MILLION, HE'D STILL HAVE ABOUT $20 MILLION IN THE BANK.

SO THAT LOOKS EXTRA BAD TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE.

>> THIS IS A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED HOUSE, A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED SENATE WITH A REPUBLICAN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT PRESIDES OVER THIS.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT HOW THIS PARTY IS GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT ITSELF THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

>> YOU KNOW, I'VE OFTEN SAID THAT THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN TEXAS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIONS ON EARTH THAT NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO.

IN A STATE OF 31 MILLION PEOPLE, YOU HAVE ABOUT 2 MILLION WHO VOTE GENERALLY IN THAT PRIMARY.

SO THAT MEANS 750,000 TO 1 MILLION PEOPLE GET TO SET THE COURSE FOR THIS STATE, AND YOU HAVE NOT HAD DEMOCRATS BE COMPETITIVE IN A GENERAL ELECTION IN A GENERATION IN THIS STATE.

SO THAT MEANS THAT ANY CORRUPTION THAT EXISTS IN STATE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO BE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

I THINK NATIONALLY, WHAT YOU SEE IS ALWAYS JUST TRIBALISM.

IT'S DEMOCRATS VERSUS REPUBLICANS WHEN IT CAME TO THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.

NOW IN WASHINGTON THEY'RE TALKING, AS YOU KNOW, ABOUT MAYBE IMPEACHING PRESIDENT BIDEN, AND THAT'S REPUBLICANS GOING AGAINST DEMOCRATS.

BUT HERE IN TEXAS, IT'S BASICALLY A ONE-PARTY STATE AT THIS POINT AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND SO HERE YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE THAT FLIPS THE SCRIPT ON ALL THAT WHERE YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS POTENTIALLY POLICING ONE OF THEIR OWN, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS HAS SORT OF GOTTEN THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE NOT JUST IN TEXAS BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS WELL.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU REPORTED RECENTLY THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT KEN PAXTON COULD RESIGN TO SORT OF, WELL, PREVENT ALL OF THIS FROM COMING OUT IN THE LIGHT OF DAY AS A SPECTACLE.

ANY POSSIBILITY OF THAT HAPPENING NOW?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S NOT GOING TO RESIGN, BUT THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS CHATTER ABOUT THAT AMONG TOP REPUBLICANS LAST WEEK.

I CAN TELL YOU PEOPLE AT THE CAPITOL, PEOPLE IN CHARGE WERE TAKING THAT SERIESLY.

THERE'S BEEN SORT OF AN OFF AND ON RUMOR MILL ABOUT WHETHER HE WOULD RESIGN TO TRY TO AVOID TESTIMONY.

AND, LOOK, THE TESTIMONY IS GOING TO GET UGLY, RIGHT?

WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE FACT HE'S GOT AN ALLEGED MISTRESS, WHO IS ON THE WITNESS LIST BY THE WAY.

ALL OF THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE GOING TO BE LITIGATED IN JUST A NASTY WAY IN THIS TRIAL FOR SURE.

YOU HAVE SOME LEGENDARY ATTORNEYS ON BOTH SIDES WHO ARE REALLY GOING TO FIGHT EACH OTHER TOOTH AND NAIL DURING THIS, AND MAYBE HE WOULD JUST RATHER AVOID IT ALL.

I DID REPORT OUT LAST WEEK THAT HE WAS MAYBE CONSIDERING RESIGNING.

HE SAID, NO, HE WASN'T.

SO WE'LL TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD FOR NOW.

THERE'S A GOOD REASON FOR HIM NOT TO RESIGN BECAUSE THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN ON HIM.

THERE'S ALSO A STATE PROSECUTION OF HIM FOR SECURITIES FRAUD IN HOUSTON.

AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS THAT FEDERAL GRAND JURY THAT HAS CONVENED DOWN IN SAN ANTONIO TAKING A LOOK AT HIM AS WELL.

IF YOU ARE SOMEBODY WHO HOLDS A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE LIKE THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THAT MAY BE YOUR ONLY BARGAINING CHIP IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A LIGHTER SENTENCE IF THERE IS A FEDERAL PROSECUTION.

>> IN RESPONSE TO YOUR REPORT ABOUT THE POSSIBLE RESIGNATION, KEN PAXTON SAID HE WOULD NOT RESIGN.

DID HE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS, THE IMPEACHMENT THAT HE IS FACING?

>> NO, AND IT'S BEEN INTERESTING THAT THE SUPPORTERS OF PAXTON ALMOST NEVER TALK ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM.

INSTEAD, THEY SAY THAT HE'S ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, THAT HE'S DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB OF FIGHTING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THE FOLKS THAT ARE SUPPORTING HIM ALMOST NEVER TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM, AND SO I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY TELLING FACT.

>> WHAT HAVE HIS ATTORNEYS DONE IN THIS LEAD-UP?

ARE THERE ANY KIND OF LEGAL MOVES THAT THEY'VE MADE THAT MIGHT MAKE -- WELL, THAT MIGHT TIP IT IN HIS FAVOR OR AT LEAST GIVE HIM LESS OF A DISADVANTAGE?

>> SO FAR, PAXTON'S ATTORNEYS HAVE TRIED TO DISMISS THE ENTIRE THING AS POLITICAL THEATER AND A WITCH HUNT, THE SAME KIND OF RHETORIC THAT YOU WOULD HEAR FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AS HE DEALS WITH HIS LEGAL ISSUES.

THE LEGAL MOVES THAT THEY'VE MADE ON PAXTON'S SIDE HAVE BEEN TO TRY TO GET THE TEXAS SENATE TO DISMISS THIS OUT OF HAND, TO SAY THAT THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PAXTON ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE TEXAS SENATE'S GOING TO DO THAT.

INSTEAD, IT LOOKS LIKE THE SENATE'S MOVING AHEAD WITH A FULL TRIAL, AND WE'LL GET TO HEAR WHAT THEIR ACTUAL DEFENSE OF THIS IS.

>> SPEAKING OF THOSE FELONY CHARGES BACK FROM 2015, WHERE IS THAT AT NOW?

>> THAT HAS BEEN HUNG UP IN THE COURTS FOR ALMOST, AS YOU POINT OUT, SINCE 2014, 2015.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN UNDER INDICTMENT FOR SECURITIES FRAUD.

IN THE PROCEEDINGS IN HOUSTON, WHERE THAT'S FINALLY STARTING TO GO FORWARD, ALTHOUGH IT'S SORT OF ON PAUSE ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL THAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN IN THE TEXAS SENATE, BOTH SIDES IN THAT CASE, THE ATTORNEYS FOR PAXTON AND THE PROSECUTORS HAVE SAID THAT IF HE'S REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY THE TEXAS SENATE, THEN THE STATE-LEVEL PROSECUTION IN HOUSTON WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO TO BECAUSE PAXTON HAS, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, HE HAS ADMITTED TO ENGAGING IN THAT SECURITIES FRAUD THAT HE'S ACCUSED OF, WHICH IS WHY HIS ATTORNEYS HAVE TRIED TO DRAG IT OUT FOREVER AND NOT HAVE IT GO TO TRIAL.

>> ARE THERE NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS JUST FOR THE VERY FACT THAT THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IS HAPPENING, AND IF, IN FACT, KEN PAXTON, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, IS IMPEACHED?

>> HARD TO TELL.

YOU KNOW, I'M WONDERING EVERY DAY HOW MUCH PEOPLE CAN PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS THAT ARE IN OTHER STATES WHEN OFTEN IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD'S ON FIRE WITH A FORMER PRESIDENT GOING THROUGH HIS OWN IMPEACHMENTS AND NOW CRIMINAL TRIALS AS WELL.

POLITICALLY, I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH FOLKS ARE GOING TO PAY ATTENTION IN OTHER STATES TO WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

IT SEEMS TO BE KIND OF A FAMILY AFFAIR HERE IN TEXAS.

BUT I DO THINK IT HAS REAL IMPLICATIONS FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT FOLKS ARE WILLING TO DO AS REPUBLICANS.

I MEAN KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE ONLY ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO WOULD FILE THAT LAWSUIT FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TO TRY TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION IN OTHER STATES.

AND MAYBE IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T AGREE WITH SOMEONE WHO WOULD DO THAT, AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF HAS BEEN SAID TO BE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER ACT OF CORRUPTION.

THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS, THE ENTITY THAT LICENSES, YOU KNOW, LAWYERS HERE, THERE ARE ATTORNEYS IN THIS STATE WHO WANT PAXTON TO BE DISBARRED OVER HIS CONDUCT THAT'S BEEN REVEALED BY THE EVIDENCE IN THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL SO FAR.

SO WHAT THE REVERBERATIONS ARE GOING TO BE, HARD TO SAY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A FASCINATING MONTH OR SO AS THIS TRIAL PLAYS OUT IN THE TEXAS SENATE.

>> YEAH.

DOES THIS ENTIRE EPISODE AFFECT HOW REPUBLICAN VOTES STACK UP IN THE STATE?

I MEAN IT'S A SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN STATE OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

DOES THIS HARM THE BRAND ENOUGH WHERE WE COULD SEE PERHAPS MORE COMPETITIVE RACES COMING UP?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THE BRAND OF REPUBLICAN THAT WE HAVE IN TEXAS AND THE BRAND OF REPUBLICANS WE HAVE NATIONALLY RIGHT NOW ARE DIFFERENT.

THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.

I MEAN PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKS ABOUT AMERICA FIRST, AND IN TEXAS, I'M SORRY, PEOPLE AROUND HERE WOULD SAY IT'S TEXAS FIRST.

IT'S SORT OF A DIFFERENT THING.

BUT, LOOK, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAGA INFLUENCE, THE MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN INFLUENCE, MAGA AS STEVE BANNON CALLS IT, BANNON, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ON HIS SHOW, HE SAID TEXAS IS THE HEART OF MAGA OR ONE OF THE HEARTS OF MAGA.

I WOULD PUSH BACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU HAD GOVERNOR ABBOTT, WHOS WOULD BOOED BY MAGA FOLKS AT A MAGA RALLY LAST YEAR, AND HE STILL WINS HIS PRIMARY WITH 66% AGAINST FOUR CHALLENGERS.

SAME THING FOR U.S.

SENATOR JOHN CORNYN.

HE'S BEEN BOOED BY THE MAGA FOLKS AND HE WINS HIS PRIMARY.

HE GETS 76% IN HIS PRIMARIES.

I WOULD POINT OUT THE LAST TIME THE TEXAS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AT THE PRESIDENTIAL LEVEL WAS CONTESTED BACK IN 2016, THAT TRUMP DIDN'T WIN HERE.

THAT WAS TED CRUZ.

IT WASN'T CLOSE EITHER.

I THINK TRUMP GOT 50 DELEGATES TO CRUZ GOT SOMETHING LIKE 100.

SO HE GOT TROUNCED WHEN HE WAS TAKEN ON BY ANOTHER REPUBLICAN IN THIS STATE.

>> SCOTT BRADDOCK OF THE QUORUM REPORT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>>> DESPITE MOST OF HIS FELLOW REPUBLICANS VOTING TO IMPEACH, KEN PAXTON MAINTAINS IT'S A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SHAM.

HIS TRIAL BEGINS NEXT WEEK.