Texas Senate refuses all of Paxton's attempts to throw out impeachment charges

The Texas Senate on Tuesday swatted down all of Attorney General Ken Paxton's attempts to throw out the articles of impeachment against him, the Texas Tribune reports. The rejection of the pretrial motions on the first day of Paxton's Senate trial sets the stage for him to be tried on articles of impeachment that include allegations of abuse of office, bribery, obstruction of justice and dereliction of duty. The two dozen pretrial motions required a majority vote in the GOP-controlled Senate to pass.