Cornyn Says Paxton Pleaded the Fifth During Impeachment Trial

The political feud between Senator John Cornyn (R) and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) continues as Senator Cornyn accuses his senatorial challenger of invoking the Fifth Amendment during his impeachment proceedings.

In a recent post on X, Senator Cornyn criticized his political rival for refusing to testify during his Senate impeachment trial and later admitting during a whistleblower settlement that “everything the House Impeachment articles charged was true,” adding that the case cost taxpayers $6.6 million.

The Texas senator further highlighted the cost of the House investigation and Senate impeachment trial, which he said totaled more than $5 million.

The social media post immediately sparked backlash from supporters of Attorney General Paxton. State Representative Steve Toth (R) challenged the senator’s accusation, calling it “patently dishonest.”

“As an officer of the court and a former Texas Attorney General, that’s an outrageous accusation,” state Rep. Toth wrote. “Where did Ken Paxton plead the fifth?”

Senator Cornyn quickly responded with a link to a legal filing: a motion to preclude Attorney General Paxton’s testimony during the impeachment proceedings.

The motion requested that the court formally protect Paxton’s right not to testify, stating that the proceedings would “proceed both more fairly and more efficiently” if that right was confirmed well in advance of trial.

Though the motion does not explicitly state that Attorney General Paxton “pleaded the Fifth,” it strongly signals an intent to shield him from testifying based on his constitutional rights, which is a nuance now fueling debate in the GOP primary race.

Attorney General Paxton survived the impeachment vote in the Texas Senate, and he remains a powerful figure in conservative politics. Senator Cornyn, on the other hand, has faced criticism from members of the GOP for allegedly being a Republican in Name Only (RINO).