Paxton, reelected last year by voters who shrugged off his scandals, now faces the prospect of impeachment by a House of Representatives chamber in which he may have few remaining allies.
The attorney general, reelected last year by voters who shrugged off his scandals, is accused of a yearslong pattern of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking. The full House is expected to consider the articles soon.
Many allegations against Paxton were already known, but the airing of them revealed the scope of the investigation by the committee, which has the power to recommend censure or impeachment.