Texas Lawmakers Investigate UT System Regent

AUSTIN (AP) — The Texas House has launched a formal investigation into University of Texas System regent Wallace Hall (pictured) of Dallas and will consider whether to impeach him. House Speaker Joe Straus assigned the investigation Tuesday to the Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations. The co-chairman of the panel is Representative Dan Flynn of Van.

Republican Representative Jim Pitts asked lawmakers to investigate Hall. Pitts has objected to Hall’s continued use of massive open records requests for emails and other documents searching for information from and about campus President Bill Powers, other school officials and legislators. Hall, who was appointed by Governor Rick Perry, also failed to disclose his involvement in several lawsuits when he filled out a questionnaire prior to his Senate Confirmation. The committee will investigate Pitts’ allegations of wrongdoing and can recommend impeachment to the full Texas House.