‘Corruption’ And ‘Betrayal’: GOP Senator Trailing In Key Race Unleashes War Of Words With Opponent

Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn and his GOP primary rival Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton traded barbs Friday — with Cornyn claiming the race will be a “test of character” as he trails Paxton in multiple polls.

Cornyn, who has served in the Senate since 2002, called on Paxton’s past corruption allegations, which resulted in his 2023 impeachment and acquittal, in a New York Times interview released Friday. Attempting to shift the focus of the race from policy to Paxton’s character “may be one of the few avenues available to Mr. Cornyn who could find it difficult to outflank Mr. Paxton on the right,” the Times reported.

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

The senator alluded to the allegations of corruption and abuse that led to Paxton’s impeachment, claiming they were “just the tip of the iceberg,” telling the newspaper more revelations behind Paxton’s allegations would surface before the primary.

However, the attorney general fired back, telling the Times that Cornyn was attempting to change the centerpiece of the race due to poor showings in multiple recent polls.

“John Cornyn is peddling a new fake lie every week because he is down ,” Paxton told the newspaper in a statement. Paxton also told the Times that Cornyn’s attacks “can’t change the fact that he worked with Joe Biden to take away our gun rights.”