AUSTIN, Texas — In an explosive statement on Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called for the resignation of House Speaker Dade Phelan, whom he accused of leading the chamber while drunk.
Paxton offered no evidence to back up his statement. In a separate letter, he asked the House General Investigating Committee to look into the matter.
“Texans were dismayed to witness his performance presiding over the Texas House in a state of apparent debilitating intoxication,” wrote Paxton, a third-term Republican. “While I hope Speaker Phelan will get the help he needs, he has proven himself unworthy of Texans’ trust and incapable of leading the Texas House.”
Phelan’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A video recently circulated on social media of the Beaumont Republican muddling his words toward the end of a 14-hour session on Friday. Critics accused the speaker of being “wasted,” while others chalked it up to exhaustion. His office declined to comment on the matter, according to KXAN.
Tension has been building for months between Paxton and Phelan.
Paxton recently reached a $3.3 million settlement with four whistleblowers who alleged they faced retaliation after accusing the attorney general of bribery and abuse of office. Phelan, however, has said he doesn’t think taxpayers should have to foot the bill, and the Legislature is poised to block the settlement payment.
The FBI opened an investigation into the whistleblowers’ claims in late 2020. Paxton has denied wrongdoing. He’s also been under indictment since 2015 on unrelated securities fraud charges. Paxton has pleaded not guilty and the case is still awaiting trial.
The five-member House General Investigating Committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon.
The panel convened at 3 p.m. but immediately went into session behind closed doors without disclosing what they would be discussing. Two law enforcement officers were stationed outside the door of the committee room in the basement of the Capitol extension. House Parliamentarian Hugh Brady came and went from the meeting room.
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(Dallas Morning News staff writer Lauren McGaughy contributed to this report.)
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