Cornyn seeks records on Paxton travel amid mistress allegations

Sen. John Cornyn's re-election campaign has escalated its confrontation with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, filing a Texas Public Information Act request for records detailing Paxton's travel with his longtime partner, Tracy Duhon, dating back to March 2024. The campaign said the records could show whether Paxton used taxpayer resources to fund personal trips, a point of contention as Paxton campaigns for a U.S. Senate seat in a state already pivotal in national politics.

The information request was submitted to Paxton's office on Wednesday, and it seeks travel schedules, reimbursements, and other records that would illuminate Paxton's movements with Duhon, a 57-year-old Christian influencer. In a statement to the Daily Mail, the Cornyn campaign senior advisor Matt Mackowiak said, "Taxpayers deserve to know" if Paxton used official resources to pay for trips undertaken to conceal an affair. The request references reporting by the Daily Mail and asks for records going back to March 2024. Paxton's office had not responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment by publication.

Background on the broader dispute helps frame the campaign move. The Daily Mail has published a series of articles detailing Paxton's relationship with Duhon, including reports that they traveled together across the country and even overseas, sometimes while using the alias "Kyle" during hotel stays. Duhon, described in the reporting as a mother of seven and a Christian influencer, was reportedly connected to Paxton through social events such as the Kentucky Derby in May 2024. The Daily Mail described multiple getaways taken while both were married at the time, a dynamic the outlet said was kept private to protect the entanglement.

The affair has reverberated beyond the personal sphere, intersecting with Paxton's political biography. The marriage of Paxton to Angela Paxton has been strained for years; Angela Paxton announced a divorce in July, later confirming separation and citing biblical grounds. The divorce filings and subsequent legal maneuvers have attracted attention in conservative circles, where Paxton has remained a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump. Those developments echo earlier disclosures about Paxton’s personal life, including a 2023 affair with former Texas Senate aide Laura Olsen that preceded his impeachment by the Texas House on charges tied to abusing his office and seeking benefits for his relationship. Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate after an impeachment trial.

Officials and political observers say the new information request sits at the intersection of Paxton’s ongoing bid to unseat Sen. Cornyn and the broader contest for conservative credibility in Texas. Cornyn’s campaign and allied groups have argued that Paxton’s conduct, if confirmed, could affect voters who prize faith, family, and propriety in elected leaders. Cornyn has previously used Paxton's past scandals in campaign messaging, including a July ad focusing on the 2023 impeachment episode.

While the Daily Mail’s reporting has shaped the current information request, Paxton’s camp has largely refrained from public comment on the specifics of the alleged travel. The outcome of the Texas Public Information Act request could add a new layer of scrutiny to Paxton’s already high-profile political arc as he seeks to reposition himself in a national race that could influence the balance of power in Washington.

The situation unfolds as Texas politics remain tightly watched nationwide, with both Paxton and Cornyn trying to appeal to conservative voters who prioritize Christian values and marital fidelity. In a broader sense, the dispute underscores how personal conduct allegations can become central to partisan campaigns, especially when they intersect with issues of accountability for public resources. The public records sought by Cornyn’s campaign may illuminate whether Paxton used state resources for personal travel and whether those trips intersected with Paxton’s official duties, a question that will be pivotal for voters assessing the integrity of the state’s chief legal officer.