GOP Drama: Cotton Blocks Cornyn for Senate Intelligence Chair

A spokesperson for Thune declined to comment. Asked if he expects to claim the gavel, Cotton on Tuesday said, “No comment.” On Tuesday night, Cotton spokeswoman Caroline Tabler said: “Senator Thune has told Senator Cotton he’s taking over as chair. Cornyn approached Cotton to take his temperature about the post last month after the leader race, I’m told by a Republican senator, and Cotton responded by saying: “I’m going to be the chairman.” Donald Trump is close to Texas Attorney General Paxton, who played a key role in the president-elect’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results. Lamenting the uncertainty of the secret ballot contest after his loss, the Texan ruefully identified with another lawmaker who was defeated for a leadership position and was forced to write “27 thank you notes for 24 votes.” A close ally of former President George W. Bush and Karl Rove, Cornyn was state attorney general before claiming his Senate seat in Bush’s first midterm election. After meeting this week with Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director and the author of an enemies list of Trump adversaries, Cornyn said he was “inclined to support him, barring some unforeseen circumstances.” Trump’s FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, meets with Cornyn in his office in the Hart Senate Office Building on Dec. 9.