John Cornyn

John Cornyn has faced allegations regarding his conduct as a judge and his personal finances throughout his career. In 1991, while serving on the Texas Supreme Court and as a presiding administrative judge, he faced a lawsuit from the Webb County District Attorney regarding his dual roles. This led to a perjury investigation by the Travis County District Attorney concerning conflicting sworn statements he provided regarding his legal residency. In November 1992, prosecutors declined to press charges, citing insufficient evidence and differing interpretations of residency laws. Later, Cornyn faced criticism for double dipping, as he supplemented his Senate salary with public pensions from his time as a Texas official. These payments were not initially disclosed on his Senate financial reports; he amended his filings between 2012 and 2013 to include pension income dating back to 2006. Additionally, critics and political opponents have raised questions regarding potential conflicts of interest due to his daughter’s work as a lobbyist for firms involved in the EB-5 visa program, which Cornyn supported legislatively. There have been no criminal convictions, indictments, or formal ethics violations resulting in sanctions throughout his career.