Dueling probes: A Texas House body vs. the Attorney General. Here's what we know

A Texas House investigations committee says it is investigating state Attorney General Ken Paxton in connection to his request for $3.3 million in public money to resolve a whistleblower lawsuit against the office by former aides in the agency.

The House Committee on General Investigating, which will hold a public hearing on the matter at 8 a.m. Wednesday, met Tuesday and voted to issue subpoenas to Paxton and his office. The committee also directed the office to preserve all documents related to the investigation.

It's unclear what specific concerns the committee may have, as a letter from them to Paxton described only "alleged wrongful conduct."

Paxton calls on House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign

The bombshell announcement came hours after Paxton issued a statement Tuesday calling on House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign. Paxton, citing a video from the House floor that showed Phelan unsteady and tongue-tied as he directed House business, said Phelan appeared intoxicated and asked the investigating committee to look into it.

Phelan's office has not commented publicly on the video or whether Phelan was intoxicated.

Cait Wittman, Phelan's communications director, said Paxton's attack against Phelan is in response to his own troubles with the House.

"Mr. Paxton’s statement today amounts to little more than a last ditch effort to save face," Wittman said in a statement. The statement also said: "The motives for and timing behind Paxton’s statement today couldn’t be more evident."

'Matter A' on the meeting agenda

The investigations committee, bound by secrecy, has apparently been looking into Paxton since March, when its meeting agendas first referenced a pending item known as "Matter A." The month before, Paxton had asked a House subcommittee to appropriate $3.3 million to resolve the lawsuit from the whistleblowers. But, after Paxton refused to a deadline to secure the payment in this legislative session, the whistleblowers called off the deal and the case returned to court.

More: More uncertainty clouds potential $3.3M settlement between Texas AG Paxton, whistleblowers

In the lawsuit, the whistleblowers say they were terminated after they told federal investigators that Paxton accepted a bribe to benefit a campaign donor. The investigation is ongoing and earlier this year was taken over by the Justice Department in Washington. Paxton, in his third term, since 2015 has faced unrelated state securities charges.

Who is 'John Doe No. 6'?

The subpoenas issued Tuesday were for "John Doe No. 6" and, generally, to the AG's office. The committee chair, Rep. Andrew Murr, said Paxton's office is "to ensure that all evidence relevant to the committee's inquiry is not destroyed or concealed."

The chair moves that the committee direct the issuance of a preservation letter to the Office of the Attorney General the state agency that is the subject matter of matter a to ensure that all evidence relevant to the committee's inquiry is not destroyed or concealed.

It's been a busy session for the investigating committee. Earlier this month they led the way for the House to expel Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, after they found that he had inappropriate sexual conduct with a 19-year-old staffer in his office.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House committee votes to subpoena Attorney General Ken Paxton