Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign launch video may have illegally used uniformed police officers, potentially violating state ethics laws in his challenge against incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
Key Takeaways
- Paxton’s campaign video features uniformed Collin County police officers, which may violate Texas ethics laws prohibiting the use of public resources for political advertising
- Texas law specifically prohibits using government-issued uniforms in campaign materials unless personally purchased by the officers
- Similar ethics violations have occurred before, including a 2020 ad by Senator Cornyn himself
- The Texas Ethics Commission can impose civil penalties, but Paxton’s office has historically been lax in enforcing such violations
- This ethics controversy adds to Paxton’s existing legal challenges as he embarks on what promises to be a contentious Republican primary
Potential Ethics Violations in Campaign Rollout
Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign has barely begun, yet it’s already embroiled in controversy. The Texas Attorney General’s launch video prominently features uniformed police officers from Collin County, a practice that appears to directly contradict Texas ethics laws. State regulations explicitly prohibit the use of publicly funded resources – including government-issued uniforms – in political advertising. This restriction exists to prevent the appearance of official endorsement by state agencies and to maintain clear separation between government functions and partisan politics.
The ethics questions center around whether the officers in Paxton’s video personally owned their uniforms or if they were provided using county funds. When contacted for clarification, neither the Paxton campaign nor the Collin County Constable precincts offered any comment on the matter, leaving observers to speculate about potential violations. The Texas Ethics Commission maintains strict guidelines on such matters, with the ability to levy civil fines against campaigns that misuse public resources.
A Pattern of Political Ethics Violations
This isn’t the first time such ethics questions have arisen in Texas politics. Ironically, Senator Cornyn himself faced similar scrutiny in 2020 for using uniformed law enforcement in his own campaign materials. More recently, Representative Chris Pappas in New Hampshire and former Representative Colin Allred in Texas have encountered comparable controversies. The recurring nature of these violations suggests a troubling pattern of campaigns disregarding ethics rules, possibly banking on minimal consequences.
“Apparent violations of ethics laws are not uncommon among politicians in both parties across the country. Last year, former Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) used uniformed local law enforcement officials in an ad for his Senate campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).” – Source
Enforcement of such violations falls to the Texas Ethics Commission, yet there’s a glaring conflict of interest at play. As the state’s top law enforcement official, Paxton himself would typically be responsible for pursuing ethics breaches. His office has shown little appetite for addressing such matters in the past, raising doubts about accountability. This self-policing conundrum highlights the weakness in Texas ethics enforcement when violations involve powerful officeholders.
Adding to a Legacy of Controversies
The ethics questions surrounding Paxton’s campaign video are merely the latest in a long series of controversies that have marked his tenure as Texas Attorney General. Paxton has weathered multiple significant scandals, including felony securities fraud charges, allegations of bribery from his own staff, and an impeachment trial in which he was ultimately acquitted by the Republican-controlled state Senate. Rather than hindering his political ambitions, these scandals appear to have emboldened Paxton.
The upcoming primary battle between Paxton and Cornyn represents a stark ideological contrast within the Republican Party. Cornyn, backed by the Senate GOP’s campaign organization, represents the establishment wing, while Paxton has positioned himself as a Trump loyalist with support from the party’s far-right base. He’s secured endorsements from Representatives Lance Gooden and Troy Nehls, while Senator Ted Cruz has remained pointedly neutral in what promises to be a brutal intra-party contest.
“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a primary challenge against longtime Sen. John Cornyn on Tuesday night, setting the stage for a battle between two politicians representing different parts of the Republican Party.” – Source
Sources:
- Ken Paxton may have run afoul of Texas ethics laws with Senate campaign launch
- Texas’ Ken Paxton hopes to parlay multiple scandals into a GOP Senate campaign
