'Grifter': GOP senator toppled by Trump lashes out at right-wing activist

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) lashed out on social media at a longtime right-wing activist notorious for his voter registration drives.

"Just had a conversation with Senator John Cornyn at the airport," wrote Scott Presler on X. "I was very gracious & asked him to pass the SAVE America Act" — referencing a package of draconian voter restrictions pushed by President Donald Trump.

Cornyn replied with a one-word response: "Grifter."

Additionally, former Cornyn campaign strategist Matt Mackowiak replied to Presler too, saying, "He’s an original cosponsor (expletive). Flip a no vote."

Presler has long boasted about delivering victories for Republicans by going into key states to register new Republicans, although some studies of the areas he set up his drives, like Amish Country in Pennsylvania, cast doubt on the idea he had any more than a negligible impact.

The activist has also racked up a string of controversies, including his ties to anti-Muslim hate groups, his involvement with the "Stop the Steal" rallies preceding the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and his ignominious resignation as field coordinator for the Republican Party of Virginia after reports that he engaged in gay hookups at the Virginia Beach GOP office and posted photos of the encounters to Craigslist.