Texas House ethics panel to consider new inquiry

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Lawmakers tasked with policing House rules and legislators’ ethics will convene at the state capitol Wednesday morning to consider new business.

The Texas House General Investigating Committee meets when prompted by a need to investigate alleged violations of House rules or state law. Their business is conducted in private, and there are no public indications of the subject of Wednesday’s inquiry.

Last year, the committee sent waves through the Texas political world by investigating Attorney General Ken Paxton, which led to the House impeaching and temporarily relieving Paxton of his duties. The committee could not make their case to the Senate, which voted to acquit Paxton and return him to office in September.

The committee also spearheaded the expulsion of a member for the first time in nearly 100 years. The House voted to remove East Texas representative Bryan Slaton from his seat after the committee’s investigation found he had sex with his 19-year-old intern after serving her alcohol at his Austin apartment.

Chairman Andrew Murr entered the committee into executive session shortly after 11 Wednesday morning. Lawmakers will now consider business in private.

This coverage is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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