From Politics to Paranoia: The Far-Right and Ken Paxton's Impeachment Trial

Throughout this article, we aim to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted dynamics surrounding Ken Paxton's impeachment trial, highlighting the nuances, contradictions, and intriguing connections that have emerged.

Surrogates of The Enterprise announced plans for "the grassroots" to protest in Austin against the Paxton Impeachment

In the lead-up to the impeachment proceedings, The Enterprise and their spokespersons issued warnings to Texas Senate members, indicating that there would be repercussions if they voted against The Enterprise's interests.

Julie McCarty and Fran Rhodes made an appearance on Steve Bannon's show, where they stated the following:

• They are organizing a gathering in Austin.
• They will actively oppose Senators if they move forward with impeachment.
• On the fifth, they are bringing people to Austin, with caravans converging from all corners of the state.

Stickland Adopts The Enterprise's Playbook in Ken Paxton's Impeachment Defense, Mirroring Their Tactics in Bryan Slaton's Case

The initial report from Scorecard Confessions laid bare The Enterprise's playbook, originally designed to shield Bryan Slaton from expulsion. It appears that this very playbook has now been extended to Ken Paxton's defense:

Statements issued by RPT Legislative Priorities Chair Jill Glover and RPT Chair Matt Rinaldi alluded to the same strategic approach.

Here's a breakdown of the playbook's steps:

Step 1: Uncover evidence supporting alleged affairs involving two other members.
Step 2: Share this information with sympathetic media outlets to expose the alleged misconduct.
Step 3: Demand investigations or expulsions of those implicated, by drawing parallels between their actions and Representative Slaton's involvement with a teenager.
Step 4: If the House fails to expel Slaton, accuse the Speaker of hypocrisy, asserting that Slaton was only expelled because he was one of the few "true conservatives" in the legislature.

Like clockwork, Jonathan Stickland has followed The Enterprise's playbook to the letter throughout Ken Paxton's impeachment trial.

Daily Attendance Summary at the Paxton Impeachment Trial

Here is a summary of the attendance reported for each day of the Paxton Impeachment Trial:

Day 1 Attendance, as reported by Current Revolt:

Current Revolt was also told that a "bus full" of Paxton supporters was en route to Austin, but never appeared:

Related to the anemic attendance, we were told multiple times that a “bus full” of pro-Paxton supporters were going to show up in the afternoon. They never appeared.

Day 2 attendance, as reported by Eva Ruth Moravec:

Day 3 attendance, as reported by The Texan:

Day 4 attendance, as reported by The Texan:

It appears that the support for Ken Paxton during the trial has been described as anemic, with some suggesting that most of the attendees may have affiliations with The Enterprise.

Scorecard Alters Their Narrative Regarding Ken Paxton's Impeachment

The Texas Scorecard's Axis of Allies appears to be diligently attempting to formulate a conspiracy theory that is both credible and convincing, though they have yet to settle on one that meets these criteria. Below, you'll find some of the theories they're presently delving into.

The Bush's Involvement
During the initial day of Ken Paxton's Impeachment Trial, Texas Scorecard's Axis of Allies seized moments from Jeff Mateer's cross-examination by Tony Buzbee to assert that Deputy Attorney General's actions in reporting to the FBI were orchestrated by "The Bush's."

TLR Becomes the New Explanation
Following Jeff Mateer's sworn testimony, where he affirmed that he had never spoken to George P. Bush (source), Tony Buzbee found himself in need of a fresh explanation and subsequently shifted the blame onto TLR.

Austin attorney Adam Loewy, as noted, expressed the view that the theory attributing the Paxton impeachment to TLR is more rooted in the longstanding animosity between Paxton's legal team and the organization rather than being based on a credible and plausible explanation.

Governor Abbott

The Enterprise declares victory prior to Ranger Maxwell's testimony

What happened to pressuring Senators?

There seems to have been a noticeable shift in strategy by Texas Scorecard's Axis of Allies during Ken Paxton's impeachment trial. Initially, their strategy appeared to involve jury tampering of Senators and encouraging "the grassroots" support, which apparently did not yield significant results. However, they have now shifted their approach to proclaiming victory, even before Ranger David Maxwell's testimony, who was seen as credible.

Austin Attorney Adam Loewy highlighted an interesting dynamic during the trial, where Paxton's defense spent considerable time praising Ranger Maxwell, acknowledging his legendary status. However, Paxton's lawyer Dan Cogdell then attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to cast doubt on Maxwell's integrity.

Austin Attorney Rick Cofer's observations emphasize the significance of Ranger David Maxwell's testimony during Ken Paxton's impeachment trial, noting that Maxwell 'owned every decision that he made in this process,' and 'Jurors, whether they're Texas Senators or regular Texans, tend to place a great deal of credibility on the testimony of law enforcement witnesses. These are witnesses who generally don't have any reason to lie in the eyes of jurors... and (Maxwell) was the most effective witness for the prosecution all week."

In a similar vein, numerous influential conservatives voiced their support for Ranger Maxwell once his testimony had concluded, with Congressman Chip Roy among them.

The Enterprise mouthpieces promptly labeled Roy as a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only).

Former Senator Konni Burton and others within Texas GOP circles expressed their disapproval of the attacks on Roy.

The Enterprise readies a new conspiracy theory

It appears that the change in strategy was prompted by the anticipation that Maxwell's testimony could deal significant, perhaps irreparable, damage to Paxton's defense, a perspective shared by observers like Loewy and Cofer.

In keeping with their pattern, the Texas Scorecard Axis of Allies seems to be privately acknowledging the possibility of Paxton's conviction and removal from office. Consequently, they are now laying the groundwork for a conspiracy theory that they can promote within their echo chamber as the trial progresses into its second week:

"Theory: George P. Bush, TLR, the FBI, and Senators who voted to convict Paxton were colluding with the Texas House to oust Ken Paxton. This was not due to his alleged corruption as a public official but because he was investigating an undefined and highly provocative issue. This alleged conspiracy is believed to be the reason behind Deputy AGs signing letters on official letterhead without Ken Paxton's name on them."

Ever heard the phrase "There are no coincidences in Austin"?

The correct response given by every witness for the prosecution in response to Paxton's defense attorneys is "No," as the phrase "There are no coincidences in Austin" is not a genuine saying or recognized expression.

It appears that Paxton's defense team is using the phrase "There are no coincidences in Austin" repeatedly, even though it lacks a basis as a common saying, as part of their strategy. This tactic aligns with the approach observed in how the Texas Scorecard's Axis of Allies influences public perception by reiterating claims, irrespective of their veracity, with the aim of ultimately shaping an alternate reality that garners belief among the public.

It's important to acknowledge that this approach has indeed found success in some instances. Certain individuals associated with The Enterprise, such as those suspected of being involved in promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory, have managed to gain a significant following and influence over a portion of the American population.

Also, remember the moment when Representative Tony Tinderholt inadvertently revealed how The Enterprise engage in deceptive practices?

I believe perception is truth to the person who perceives it. So, if someone perceives something, it's true to them, whether it's truth or not."
- Representative Tony Tinderholt

The Branch Davidian Connection

Ken Paxton's defense attorney, Dan Cogdell, played a significant role in the legal defense of Clive Doyle, a member of the Branch Davidians who faced charges related to the murder of federal agents.

Cogdell's legal team achieved a remarkable victory with a not guilty verdict for Clive Doyle after a grueling trial. This outcome was seen as a major triumph, not only for Doyle but also for Cogdell and his dedicated legal team, who had invested their all in defending their client.

On the investigative front, Ranger David Maxwell, a prominent figure among the Texas Rangers, played a crucial role in the initial Branch Davidian investigation.

The Branch Davidians, also known as the General Association of Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventists, emerged as a splinter group from the Seventh-day Adventists.

The Assembly of Yahweh, also known as the Assembly of Yahweh 7th day, Farris Wilks' church, is another group with roots in the Seventh-day Adventists.

Coincidentally, the Wilks, Assembly of Yahweh, and the Branch Davidian compounds have buildings at the entrances, incredibly long driveways masking each compound with trees and green-space, making them challenging to observe from nearby roads. Each location appears uniquely similar to the others.

The Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, was subjected to a federal raid in 1993.

On the 30th anniversary of the Waco siege, Donald Trump held a rally in Waco, Texas.

The current leader of the Branch Davidian community expressed that Donald Trump holding a rally in Waco, Texas on that particular weekend was significant. He believed that the former president was making a statement by visiting the same location where the government and the FBI had laid siege to their community.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who has received $3,000,000 in contributions from The Enterprise, with financiers linked to the Seventh-day Adventist/Branch Davidian tradition, claimed credit for suggesting that Trump hold the rally in Waco on the anniversary of the Branch Davidian raid.

Notably, David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians, was known for his paranoia regarding the FBI and had stockpiled heavy artillery in anticipation of a "prophecy" that the FBI would eventually come for their cult's compound.

The parallels between David Koresh and Donald Trump are indeed a cause for concern. As noted in a Texas Monthly article, the choice of Waco for Trump's first 2024 campaign rally carries a significant symbolism. The leader of the Branch Davidians drew a connection between Trump's visit and the government/FBI siege on their community, drawing illogical parallels to Mar-a-Lago. This comparison is further supported by the paranoid, conspiratorial, and anti-government rhetoric that resurfaced in Trump's and other speakers' speeches during the event, reminiscent of fringe sentiments from the 1990s.

The Enterprise Echoes Familiar Themes of the Branch Davidian

It's notable and concerning that almost identical paranoid, conspiratorial, and anti-government rhetoric appears within the messaging of Texas Scorecard's Axis of Allies.

Influenceable Hires Texas Monthly Reporter To Tweet Praise of Ken Paxton

A few weeks ago, Scorecard Confession brought to light the existence of a deceptive agency known as Influencable. This agency's purpose was to bypass Twitter's advertising platform and federal and state campaign finance laws. It was also revealed that Influenceable had questionable connections to Russian operatives who were associated with one of The Enterprise's financiers.

In a recent development, a Texas Monthly reporter decided to test Influencable to see if they could get paid to promote Ken Paxton. Their experiment proved successful as they received a payment of $100. The payment came from an account associated with Brad Parscale's wife, Candice Parscale. Brad Parscale is the former head of digital operations for Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.

Tim Dunn Is Tied to Nate Paul, Chinese Communist Party

Scorecard Confessions has previously published reports on the Wilks brothers' connections with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Now, The Texas Voice has revealed ties between another financier of The Enterprise, Tim Dunn, and both the CCP and Nate Paul.

Cameron is listed as a Director of Pipeline Media, Inc., an Illinois-based business entity, alongside Midland businessman and prominent political donor Tim Dunn. Cameron and Dunn were named as Defendants in a 2021 lawsuit brought in Federal Court in Missouri that alleged Cameron and Dunn were part of a scheme to fraudulently transfer assets from a business entity at the Plaintiff’s alleged detriment. The lawsuit was dismissed in favor of Cameron and Dunn.

Situation Management Group also maintains an office in Beijing, and Cameron and his company advertise close ties to the Chinese government. Cameron’s biography on the Situation Management Group website describes him as “the only US representative of the Kangda Law Firm in China, which serves as the Chinese government’s official liaison to Western companies.”

Scorecard Confessions mentioned in The Washington Post

This week, the Post reported that Ken Paxton had allegedly skipped his impeachment trial to receive a message at the Omni Barton Creek Resort, information obtained from reliable sources initially by Scorecard Confessions. Additionally, a reporter from The Washington Post reiterated an intriguing detail that had emerged concerning Paxton's extramarital affair: