Dewhurst and Cruz Accuse Each Other of Lying in New Ads

Both Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz released new campaign ads this week accusing the other of lying about Cruz's work as an appellate lawyer for a Chinese tire-maker against an American businessman.  

Dewhurst's 30-second TV ad said Cruz is "lying" by claiming recently that he wasn't the lead lawyer on the case. Court documents show Cruz identified as "counsel of record." 

Dewhurst has said Cruz's involvement in the appeal is tantamount to supporting the killing of U.S. jobs. Cruz has said the issue is a legal dispute between two private companies.

The ad starts airing around the state today, according to the Dewhurst campaign.

Cruz fought back against Dewhurst's onslaught Monday by releasing a statewide radio ad featuring conservative talk show host Mark Levin criticizing Dewhurst for using the Chinese case to smear Cruz. 

"David Dewhurst is spending millions of dollars lying about Ted Cruz," Levin says.

Levin suggests that Jordan Fishman, the man at the center of the lawsuit, isn't an American businessman as Dewhurst has claimed because Fishman moved his manufacturing to China years ago. Fishman has said the ongoing lawsuit has still forced him to lay off dozens of people his company employed in the U.S.