Texas House impeachment team taps Houston-based attorneys to lead Ken Paxton case

AUSTIN, Texas -- Prominent lawyers Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin will serve as lead prosecutors for the Texas House in the Senate impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The two Houston-based defense attorneys, introduced at a Capitol news conference Thursday, are legends in their own right, having separately represented a litany of high-profile athletes, celebrities and politicians in criminal and civil investigations.

The video above is from a previous story.

DeGuerin defended former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay against charges that he illegally funneled corporate donations to members of the Texas Legislature in 2002. DeLay was found guilty, but his conviction was overturned on appeal.

SEE ALSO: What to know about Texas' extraordinary move to impeach GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton

He also successfully defended former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison from misconduct charges, and other high-profile clients have including New York real estate mogul Robert Durst during his 2003 murder trial and Branch Davidian leader David Koresh during the 1993 Waco standoff.

Hardin has represented a long list of celebrities, star athletes and businesses, including Arthur Andersen, the accounting firm at the heart of the Enron scandal that was found guilty of obstruction of justice before the conviction was overturned in a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Other Hardin clients included star NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson amid a litany of sexual assault lawsuits in Harris County; legendary baseball player Wade Boggs; and the estate of Texas millionaire J. Howard Marshall in a dispute with former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith.

Hardin is on a short list of attorneys named "Texas Legal Legends" by the State Bar of Texas' litigation section and, before opening a private practice two decades ago, served 15 years as a prosecutor in the Harris County district attorney's office.

At a brief news conference on Thursday, Hardin and DeGuerin noted that together they have more than 100 years of legal experience and said it was an honor to represent the House in Paxton's trial, which has not been scheduled but will occur before Aug. 28, according to a resolution recently adopted by the Senate.

SEE ALSO: Texas Senate to hold trial for AG Ken Paxton after historic impeachment

The two said their job was to be transparent as they lay out all of the allegations against Paxton so senators, who will sit as a jury, as well as members of the public can decide for themselves if Paxton deserves to be permanently removed from office.

"The people of the state of Texas are entitled to know whether their top cop is a crook," DeGuerin said. "We know the importance of transparency in these proceedings because the people have a right to know."

Hardin said he was "shocked" by the allegations against Paxton that were detailed in the 20 articles of impeachment. "This is not about a one time misuse of office," he said. "This is not about a two-time misuse of office. It's about a pattern of misconduct."

He added: "I promise you it is 10 times worse than what has been public."

This is a developing story.

Disclosure: Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.