Ping
The reason Cruz blamed Trump was that it was the only way to, temporarily, deflect the story. It was his only out. It is telling that he didn’t go after the source but diverted to Trump. It will only gain him for a very short period (maybe enough time to engage some intensive polling...to tell him if there is any way to position this for the longer term). The drip, drip though is about to destroy him. He is trying to buy time by bringing Trump in. Even a politician isn’t that bull-headed though, he has to know this wound, by his own hand, is mortal.