Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton poses for a photo with supporters during a campaign stop in McAllen. Credit: X / @KenPaxtonTX

Looks like Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is back in the doghouse.

A decade-old news alleging he helped bury accusations of animal abuse at Texas A&M’s labs during his time in office has resurfaced as he ramps up his general election campaign to represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

In 2015, rescue groups from 23 states filed public records requests to find out how more than 400 dogs being used for research were treated at Texas A&M. Those public records requests came after the university admitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture that at least 100 dogs felt pain during testing, the Washington Times reported then.

However, Paxton denied the rescue group’s requests for the documents. In a legal opinion, he argued that domestic animals are subject to veterinarian-client confidentiality, writing that “a veterinarian may not violate the confidential relationship between the veterinarian and the veterinarian’s client.”

The story on his ruling resurfaced this week on social media platform X, where progressive political accounts and activists have been circulating the clip and accusing Paxton of a coverup.

“With more than 400 puppies and 15 cats being abused in a research lab, Ken Paxton’s office helped cover it up, ensuring that records would not be released to the public,” the Texas Democratic Party tweeted on Thursday. “This guy is sick.”

A photo that allegedly shows one of the canines being used by Texas A&M for testing. Credit: Courtesy

It’s not the first time Paxton has drawn the ire of animal rights activists.

During his time in the Texas House of Representatives, Paxton in 2011 was one of just 15 House Republicans to vote against HB 963 — bill requiring convicted animal abusers to pay for housing and care of animals they abused.

Paxton’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to the Current’s request for comment on the resurfaced article.

Meanwhile, his opponent in the Senate race, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, has seized the moment, holding a “Puppies for Talarico” rally at 4 p.m. Thursday at Austin’s Celis Brewery, 10001 Metric Blvd.

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Michael Karlis is a multimedia journalist at the San Antonio Current, whose coverage in print and on social media focuses on local and state politics. He is a graduate of American University in Washington,...