Cornyn: Texas AG Ken Paxton’s legal woes an ’embarrassment’ | Govt-and-politics

Paxton, who is in arrive at of successful the GOP nomination to seek out a third time period Tuesday, has been underneath state felony indictment since 2015 on securities fraud fees and is separately staying investigated by the FBI after his prime deputies accused him of corruption.

He faces Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who compelled a runoff in March but concluded 20 share factors driving Paxton in a 4-way key.

“This is the chief regulation enforcement officer of the condition of Texas and it’s a supply of shame to me that that has been unresolved,” Cornyn instructed reporters. “As a previous attorney normal myself, I’m humiliated by what we’re possessing to offer with.”

The remarks by Cornyn, a former member of the Senate’s Republican management, amount of money to a single of the most stinging general public rebukes of Paxton by a high-position member of his social gathering about a rising path of authorized troubles. Other Texas Republicans, like Gov. Greg Abbott, have formerly expressed issue about the allegations in opposition to Paxton but have usually stopped small of immediately criticizing him.

Cornyn’s comments occur as the Texas bar association considers no matter if to punish Paxton around his tries to baselessly overturn the 2020 presidential election. The bar before this month brought a disciplinary continuing against Paxton’s 2nd-in-command and the attorney normal has reported he expects the regulator to sue him about his exertion to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential victory.

Paxton has pleaded not responsible to the securities fraud costs and has broadly denied accusations by his former team that he utilized his workplace to aid a wealthy donor.