Cornyn Camp Slams Paxton Over Alleged Misuse of Taxpayer Funds

John Cornyn

U.S. Senator John Cornyn's (R) campaign is raising new allegations against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), calling for transparency following reports of potential misuse of taxpayer funds within the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

According to reporting cited by the campaign, questions have emerged surrounding a January 2025 trip tied to inauguration events in Washington, D.C., including whether taxpayer-funded hotel rooms were improperly allocated.

The controversy intensified after two senior OAG officials -- Chief of Staff Lesley French Henneke and Chief Financial Officer Michelle Price -- resigned on March 21 under unclear circumstances.

Cornyn campaign senior advisor Matt Mackowiak said the situation raises serious concerns about oversight and accountability within Paxton's office.

"If the purpose of the trip was for staff to attend the 2025 inauguration in Washington, DC, then why did OAG give the extra rooms to Paxton donors?" said Mackowiak. "When was Attorney General Ken Paxton made aware of this scandal?"

The campaign is demanding the release of communications and financial records related to the trip, including emails, text messages, and hotel receipts. In addition, the campaign posed a series of questions to Paxton, including whether donors or personnel associated received taxpayer-funded lodging, the name(s) of who approved the expenditures, and whether the state has been reimbursed.

Sen. Cornyn responded to the allegations on social media, stating, "See what crookedken.com is up to now."

The allegations come as Paxton, a prominent Republican figure aligned with Donald Trump, and Cornyn head to a May runoff for the Republican Senate nomination.

As the dispute unfolds, the clash between Cornyn's allies and Paxton signals a deepening divide within Texas Republican politics, with questions over accountability and leadership likely to remain central as the situation develops.

Paxton's office has not publicly responded to the campaign's latest demands.

Raeylee Barefield

Raeylee Barefield is a Legislative Correspondent based in Austin, Texas, specializing in state government and public policy. With one year of reporting under her belt, she covers legislative developments, committee hearings, and policy debates. She has been cited by Texas Politics and Big Energy for her coverage and analysis of legislative and regulatory issues. Her reporting typically focuses on Public policy, Stare government, environmental policy, and energy regulation. To contact her, please reach out at Raeylee@dnm.news