Senate Republican slams 'criminal' Texas attorney general for 'pushing Russian propaganda'

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently attacked Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) over his support for the $95 billion supplemental foreign aid package that just passed the US Senate. Cornyn didn't let the attack stand without firing off a pithy response of his own.

Earlier on Tuesday, 22 Senate Republicans joined 48 Democrats and independents in voting to pass a bill to provide additional funding to US allies overseas after a long weekend of debates and amendments. Cornyn — one of the highest-ranking Republicans — joined Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and a score of other more moderate GOP senators in supporting it. This prompted Paxton to accuse Cornyn of "stay[ing] up all night to defend other countries' borders, but not America."

In response, Cornyn quote-tweeted Paxton's post, writing, "Ken, your criminal defense lawyers are calling to suggest you spend less time pushing Russian propaganda and more time defending longstanding felony charges against you in Houston, as well as ongoing federal grand jury proceedings in San Antonio that will probably result in further criminal charges."

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Cornyn's tweet is in reference to Paxton's upcoming criminal trial in April, where the Lone Star State's top law enforcement official is facing three felony charges. Two of those charges are for alleged securities fraud, which carry a maximum sentence of up to 99 years in prison. Paxton is also facing one third-degree felony count of failing to register with state securities regulators, and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The charges stem from 2011, when Paxton was in the Texas House of Representatives. He was accused of soliciting investors to buy into a tech company without disclosing that he was being paid to promote it.

The federal grand jury proceedings in San Antonio that Cornyn referred to was convened last August, and its focus remains unclear. However, the Texas Tribune reported that it may be connected to an alleged bribery case in 2020 involving Paxton's longtime friend and political donor, Nate Paul, who is a real estate developer in Austin.

Four of Paxton's former deputies reported their former boss to the FBI, which took over the investigation in February of 2023. The Texas House of Representatives impeached Paxton over the alleged bribery scheme, which resulted in his suspension from office pending a senate trial. The Texas Senate ultimately acquitted Paxton on all 16 charges. Cornyn told reporters that while he accepts the state senate's verdict, he stated "I don't think the story is over yet" in regard to the Texas AG's ongoing criminal issues.

Cornyn, who is Texas' senior US senator, is up for reelection in 2026. Paxton has floated a primary challenge against him, saying "somebody needs to step up and run against this guy."

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