Cornyn Blames Paxton for 'Sharia Law' in Texas

The U.S. Senate race between Senator John Cornyn (R) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is heating up. Senator Cornyn’s campaign has released an advertisement accusing Attorney General Paxton of providing a “safe haven” for Sharia Law in the Lone Star State.

The 30-second ad, released by Team Cornyn, directly attacks Attorney General Paxton’s ties to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), a prominent mosque and community center serving North Texas’s growing Muslim population. EPIC is widely recognized for its interfaith work and civic engagement, but the ad highlights EPIC as a threat.

“The East Plano Islamic Center is designed to be a safe haven for Sharia Law,” a voice over in the advertisement claims. “It’s Attorney General Ken Paxton’s job to stop them, but Paxton’s too corrupt and compromised to protect Texans. Paxton is being defended by the same lawyer who represented the East Plano Islamic Center.”

The ad also includes audio from the attorney general, allegedly admitting an apparent conflict of interest: “I’m still being represented by him, and he’s representing clients that we are investigating, so, yeah, a little conflict-y to me.”

When Attorney General Paxton announced that he would be running for Texas senator, he focused on Senator Cornyn's time in the senate, accusing him of being an ineffective lawmaker. The attorney general released an advertisement showcasing that Senator Cornyn hasn't been the strongest supporter of President Donald Trump (R). This was a direct response to Senator Cornyn's announcement advertisement, which tied the Texas senator to the president's successes in his first term.

While Attorney General Paxton has picked up a significant amount of support in his senate bid, President Trump recently commented that he is friends with both lawmakers and that his endorsement would come "at the right time."

The East Plano Islamic Center has not responded to the ad.