Sen. John Cornyn shared a photograph taken in 2018 to attack Senate Democrats for not wearing masks.
The image shows Senate Democrats arguing during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing two years ago.
A right-wing social media account skeptical of masks posted the photo Wednesday asking, “What’s missing in this photo?”
“Masks?” replied Cornyn.
It’s not the first time Cornyn has posted misleading or false information surrounding COVID-19.
Earlier this month, Cornyn shared an anti-mask article from a group of ultra-conservative doctors who promote conspiracy theories surrounding abortions and vaccines.
In July, Cornyn said it was unclear whether children could get infected and transmit the virus to others. At the time, around 550 Texas children had already been reported to be infected with the virus. In March, he blamed the “cultural habits” of Chinese people for COVID-19.
Cornyn is currently in a competitive race for his re-election. Polls show him leading by single digits and on Tuesday the Texas Tribune reported that Cornyn’s opponent, Air Force helicopter pilot MJ Hegar, outraised him in the latest fundraising quarter.
During their first televised debate on Friday, the two candidates clashed over the federal pandemic response, the ongoing Supreme Court nomination battle, and defunding the police, which Cornyn falsely accused Hegar of supporting.
If elected, Hegar would be the first Democrat to win a statewide election since 1994. The race has attracted outside attention and resources from Democratic groups vying to flip the seat; Democrats are only four seats away in the Senate from holding a majority. The race in Texas is among at least a dozen competitive Republican-held U.S. Senate races across the country.
Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
