Raw Story

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Monday he plans to file criminal complaints against the group of state representatives who led the impeachment against him for releasing his personal information.

“The impeachment managers clearly have a desire to threaten me with harm when they released this information last week,” he said in a statement. “I'm imploring their local prosecutors in each individual district to investigate the criminal offenses that have been committed.”

The 12 House representatives being targeted by Paxton led the impeachment trial in the Senate after the House overwhelmingly voted to impeach Paxton in May. Last month the Senate acquitted Paxton of 16 articles of impeachment that alleged corruption and bribery.

In a statement Monday, Paxton accused the House impeachment managers of violating a new state law with an Oct. 2 release of documents related to the case. The new legislation cited by Paxton prohibits posting an individual’s personal information such as a home address or telephone number with the intent to cause harm to that individual or their family.

Paxton said he plans to file the criminal complaints in each of the eight counties represented by the dozen impeachment managers. It is not clear which address is in question. Several of Paxton's addresses are available through already-published public records, often found online from any location through local municipalities' appraisal district databases.

House lawyer Rusty Hardin, who prosecuted Paxton, said Monday that the documents released last week contained the same information that was included in other documents that had already been filed or were admitted into the impeachment trial without objection.

He also said that the information about Paxton's residence is available through public records, and has been for years. Further, he said the release of documents was not conducted with an intent to cause harm to Paxton as he alleged — it was "simply a repeat of public information to anyone that wants to look into it."

If Paxton makes good on his pledge to file the criminal complaints, Hardin said his Houston law firm will consider countering with a criminal complaint against Paxton for making a false report to police.

"This is the exact kind of bullying, uninformed vengeful act that we predicted if the attorney general was not impeached," Hardin said. "He's trying to misuse the criminal justice system to cower and punish people who sought to impeach him under the law. It's just one more outrageous, vengeful act by a man who has no business being attorney general."

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/09/ken-paxton-impeachment-managers-criminal-complaint/.

The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent presidential run got off to a rocky start on Monday after he took the stage without a speech.

After being introduced by his wife, Cheryl Hines, Kennedy was expected to announce that he was leaving the Democratic Party to pursue an independent presidential bid.

Instead, there was a moment of confusion while he fumbled through his jacket for a speech.

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?

"I need my speech," he said, noting that the TelePrompter appeared upside down.

Kennedy left the stage and returned moments later with a speech in hand.

Watch the video below or at this link.

A Philadelphia journalist was found shot multiple times in his home early after 911 calls reported gunshots and screams, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Josh Kruger had been shot multiple times and collapsed in the street outside his home. He later died after being rushed to the hospital. Police say someone entered Kruger's home and shot him at the base of the stairs, before fleeing.

No arrests had been made as of Monday morning and police still don't know a motive. There were no signs of forced entry, they said.

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?

“Either the door was open, or the offender knew how to get the door open,” police said, according to the Inquirer. “We just don’t know yet.”

Kruger had posted on Facebook about two weeks ago that someone came to his house searching for their boyfriend — “a man I’ve never met once in my entire life" -- and threatened him. According to his post, the person called themselves “Lady Diabla, the She-Devil of the Streets.”

READ MORE: Mike Lindell's vote fraud gizmo could send 'enraged partisans' marching on election offices: report

Kruger's freelance journalism covered the city's most vulnerable residents, including the homeless, people in addiction, and LGBTQ community, the Inquirer reported.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The United Auto Workers expanded its strikes against Ford and General Motors on Friday, calling on nearly 7,000 additional members in Michigan and Illinois to walk off the job as the union looks to ramp up pressure on the companies to deliver stronger wage and benefit proposals.

The union opted not to expand its walkouts against Chrysler parent company Stellantis, citing progress in recent bargaining sessions on cost-of-living adjustments, the right to strike over plant closures, and other issues.

"Sadly, despite our willingness to bargain, Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress at the table," UAW president Shawn Fain said in a video update posted to social media on Friday. "To be clear, negotiations haven't broke down. We're still talking with all three companies, and I'm still very hopeful that we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made over the last decade."

"But I also know that what we win at the bargaining table depends on the power we build on the job," said Fain. "It's time to use that power."

Friday's walkouts brought the total number of UAW members on strike at the Big Three U.S. car manufacturers to roughly 25,000—nearly double the number of workers who walked off the job on the first day of the strikes two weeks ago.

Survey data released earlier this week showed public support for the strikes has grown since their launch earlier this month. Last week, UAW members walked out at every General Motors and Stellantis parts distribution facility in the U.S.

As part of its "stand-up strike" strategy, the UAW is expected to continue steadily expanding its walkouts at strategic locations throughout the country in an effort to give negotiators more leverage to pursue the union's demands at the bargaining table.

"We will not be intimidated into backing down by the companies or scabs," Fain said Friday. "Our cause is just. Striking for a better future, to protect our communities, and to defeat corporate greed is not just our right, it's our duty."

"We will win. Our strategy is working," said Fain. "Our solidarity is the most powerful force in the world. When we stand together, united in the cause of social and economic justice, there's nothing we can't do."

Chris Christie keeps trying to make his "Donald Duck" nickname stick to Donald Trump.

The former New Jersey governor slapped that sobriquet on the ex-president Wednesday at the second Republican presidential debate, which the GOP front-runner skipped –or ducked, as Christie said by way of explaining the nickname.

“If you keep doing that, no one up here is going to call you Donald Trump anymore," Christie said. "They’re going to call you Donald Duck.”

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?

The joke landed with a thud, but Christie tried to make the name stick by posting a meme of Donald Duck with Trump's distinctive hair and styling Friday.

— (@)

His joke met with scorn and ridicule on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, where users responded with a slew of unflattering photos mocking Christie's weight.

"This is beneath you," said X user "Jeff," @Football_expert.

READ MORE: See the multi-million dollar real estate empire Trump could lose in fraud trial

"Christie calling Trump 'Donald Duck' is so hilariously old-timey," said comic writer Marc Deschamps. "You’re making a reference to a 100-year-old cartoon character when 'Donald Chump' was RIGHT THERE. Amazing."

"The best KFChris McChristie could come up with was Donald Duck," said the Old School Republicans account. "I don’t think an aide thought it up, it’s so dumb that it could only come from the mind of the most unpopular Governor in the history of the United States."

A Proud Boys member who served as the far-right group’s “tool” during the Jan. 6, 2021, attempted insurrection and then disappeared after he was convicted has reportedly been found and arrested again.

In May, Christopher Worrell, of Naples, Florida, was convicted of assaulting police and rioting, among other charges. Worrell was found guilty after a five-day bench trial.

His sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 18, but he later disappeared, according to reports.

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?

The defendant has now been located, according to Naples Daily News.

"Naples resident Christopher Worrell, convicted for his part in Jan. 6 Capitol riot, has been arrested at his home by the FBI, a Collier County Sheriff's Office spokesperson confirmed Thursday night," the outlet reported. "The sheriff's office assisted the FBI with the warrant. When it was served, Worrell was home."

According to the Thursday article:

"Worrell, a member of the Proud Boys extremist group, went missing in August just as he was about to face sentencing for multiple crimes he committed during the riot. He was found guilty in May. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence that includes 14 years in prison, fines and other conditions."

The report continues:

"Among other violations, Worrell was accused of assaulting law enforcement officers with pepper spray."

You can read it here.