The House committee that recommended the impeachment said in a memo to members on Friday that they began investigating Paxton because of a $3.3 million settlement he reached with former employees in a whistleblower suit, which needed state funding. Speaker Dade Phelan has said it’s an improper use of taxpayer funds, and lawmakers have balked at providing the funds, which were not included in final drafts of the state budget.

“We cannot over-emphasize the fact that, but for Paxton’s own request for a taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct, Paxton would not be facing impeachment by the House,” it said.