Ken Paxton, the state attorney general in Texas, an influential Republican who has been an arch-rival of Democratic President Joe Biden’s federal government in the courts, faces the possibility of being removed from office for corruption, something that will be held on Saturday in a first ballot in his state’s Congress.

Yesterday Thursday, a parliamentary investigation committee adopted, unanimously, twenty charges against the “attorney general” of Texas, for corruption, misuse of public money, false statements and obstruction of justice.

The indictment is connected to the pressure exerted by Mr. Paxton on his associates in order not to prosecute his friend and sponsor. In exchange, the friend and donor offered a job to the Republican politician’s mistress and financed work on his home, according to the indictment.

The members of the House of Representatives of the vast southern American state are expected to vote on this text later today, after a debate that is expected to last four hours.

If passed (a simple majority is required), Ken Paxton will be impeached in the Texas Senate. In this body, a majority of two thirds of the members – which includes his wife – will be required for him to be removed from office.

The 60-year-old ultra-conservative politician, an ally of former President Donald Trump, is dividing his own camp and the outcome of the case is considered uncertain.

After being named head of the Texas justice system in 2014, he was prosecuted in 2015 for financial fraud, without ever being tried. This did not prevent him from being re-elected in 2018 and 2022.

In office, he has sued the Joe Biden administration about fifty times, trying to overturn its policies on immigration, taxation and the environment, among other things, he told the press on Friday.

He denounced the “illegal”, “reprehensible” and “unfair” process against him and called on his supporters to demonstrate today in front of the Texas Congress, based in Austin, as the vote takes place.

“The House is about to do what Joe Biden hoped to do after he took office: sabotage my work,” he argued.

In 2020, members of his team had alleged abuses of power by Mr Paxton. After being fired, these “public interest witnesses” appealed to the courts, complaining of unfair dismissals. Earlier this year, Mr. Paxton struck a deal to end their lawsuits in exchange for $3.3 million in damages. He asked the state to pay the bill.

This is exactly what led to the start of the investigation by the Texas state congressional committee, and it is possible that it will eventually lead to his downfall.