Cornyn: Paxton allegations ‘just the tip of the iceberg’

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in an interview published Friday suggested the allegations that fueled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) impeachment inquiry — which ultimately failed — were “just the tip of the iceberg.”

Speaking to The New York Times, Cornyn placed emphasis on the importance of character as he vies for reelection next year in the Senate GOP primary against Paxton.

“I’m willing to bet my career and my future and this job on my belief that character does matter still,” Cornyn said, suggesting Paxton believed instead “that he can get away with a whole litany of misbehavior and corruption that should disqualify him from the job.”

Paxton was acquitted in the Texas state Legislature’s impeachment inquiry in September 2023, which alleged he had “used, misused, or failed to use his official powers in a manner calculated to subvert the lawful operation of the government of the State of Texas and obstruct the fair and impartial administration of justice.”

The allegations particularly suggested Paxton was inappropriately helping Nate Paul, one of his donors.

“John Cornyn is peddling a new fake lie every week because he’s down 20 points and trying to process the fact that his 40-year political career is coming to an end,” Paxton said in a statement responding to Cornyn’s interview with the Times.

“His pathetic attacks can’t change the fact that he worked with Joe Biden to take away our gun rights, said President Trump’s ‘time has passed him by,’ and called the border wall ‘naïve,’” he added, a nod to Cornyn’s involvement in a bipartisan gun safety bill that was signed into law by former President Biden and that sparked criticism among some Texas Republicans.

Republicans are bracing for a nasty primary between the two men – which could potentially offer an opening to Democrats in Texas, as the race shows only greater signs of divisiveness and personal attacks.

One Republican-aligned poll and one public poll from the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University have shown Cornyn trailing Paxton in a GOP primary. However, both showed Cornyn faring better than Paxton in a general election.

Cornyn’s campaign released a slew of ads earlier this week, first shared with The Hill, accusing Paxton of “funding the left,” citing grant money his office gave different Texas legal groups.

Meanwhile, Paxton’s allies have hit back at the campaign’s allegations, suggesting they’re false, and have reminded voters that Cornyn has previously criticized Trump. The president hasn’t weighed in on the primary between the two men.

Noting other Republicans have similarly recanted past criticism of Trump, Cornyn told the Times, “I was wrong and President Trump was right, obviously.”