New warrant suggests Fort Bend County Judge KP George knew about staffer's alleged wrongdoing
FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A new search warrant implicates Fort Bend County Judge KP George in a fake social media campaign that already has one candidate on the November ballot facing charges.
The warrant, filed Thursday, accuses George of two counts of misrepresentation of identity, a Class A misdemeanor, for "acting with intent to promote or assist" Taral Patel "in campaign communication with the intent to injure or influence the result of an election." The allegations are violations of the Texas Election Code.
In the search warrant, investigators with the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office laid out their case for seizing and searching "all cellular communication devices" belonging to George.
The allegations follow the arrest of Precinct 3 Commissioner candidate Taral Patel on four felony counts of online impersonation. The warrant shows that investigators dug deeper into Patel's phone and email records to link his alleged wrongdoing to George.
According to the warrant, it all goes back to September 2022, when Patel was George's chief of staff and campaigning for his boss' re-election. Investigators believe Patel created fake Facebook accounts and then posted racist comments targeting George to garner sympathy. Some of those comments ended up in a collage that Patel created on social media. The warrant says investigators found text messages from Patel to George that said, "I am posting the image now."
Immediately after the screenshot was a message from Patel that read, "Let me know if you approve, I'll share this post," the warrant reads.
The warrant also said George then responded with the following request, "Also add, this heinous act doesn't represent Fort Bend County we are that most diverse and inclusive county, our diversity is our strength."
Three days later, George called out his opponent on ABC13.
"Many of these people are even tagging his website and web page and things of that nature, and if he's not a part of this or doesn't appreciate it, he needs to come out and say that," he said.
A spokesperson from George's office responded Friday lashing out at the district attorney's office for how it seized items from the warrant. "I was informed, by the Texas Rangers and the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office, that these items were requested as part of an investigation where I am considered a witness, not a target. I have not been charged with any crime, nor do I expect to be," the statement said.
George is not a witness. The warrant states he's a target in a criminal investigation.
ABC13 asked George's spokesperson if he was disputing what's in a warrant. She told ABC13 George was referring to what he was told by Texas Rangers onsite, and what his legal counsel was told by the district attorney's office.
The warrant also suggests George knew that Patel was using fake social media accounts to benefit George's re-election campaign.
According to the warrant, in response to a negative social media response to a burn ban that George signed in June 2022, Patel texted George, "They are just blowing up our social media. I will use fake account to counter them."
Patel is accused of generating racist posts using fake accounts for his current campaign and has yet to drop out of the race.
George is not under indictment, according to online records.
Patricia David ran for a justice of the peace position in Fort Bend County two years ago. The democrat campaigned with George.
During his 2022 campaign, I really supported him because I really stood on what he stood for," David explained.
She no longer supports George. David said after reading the warrant, she believes he should step down.
He deceived the community," David said. "He deceived the voters when he was running against Trevor Nehls. It was a deception. It was race bait to get votes.
Commissioner Andy Meyers, who's running against Patel, is calling for George to resign.
Meyers sent ABC13 the following statement:
"The recent revelations reported by the Houston media are deeply disturbing. If these allegations are accurate, I call on Judge KP George to immediately resign as County Judge and for Taral Patel to withdraw from the Commissioner's race. Such divisive and criminal actions have no place in Fort Bend County, the most diverse county in the United States."
Republican Chairman Bobby Eberle also sent ABC13 the following statement:
"When Democrat KP George claimed in 2022 to be the victim of racist social media posts, something just didn't feel right. Fast forward to this election cycle, and his former chief of staff and now Democrat candidate for Precinct 3 Commissioner, Taral Patel, claimed the exact same thing. Both blamed their Republican opponents and supporters. Taral Patel has been indicted for his alleged online impersonation and sending fake racist messages to himself, and now it is alleged that Patel and George colluded to do the same thing in 2022 in KP George's race. This behavior is deeply corrupt and shameful. These allegations amount to election interference by playing off the worst Democrat tactic: stoking racial division. The Fort Bend County Democrat Party remains silent as allegations and indictments continue to pile up. Fort Bend County voters should reject the politics of racial division and election interference. These Democrats do not deserve to ever represent Fort Bend County, and it begs the question: In this current regime, how many more Democrats are involved? I encourage Attorney General Paxton and the Texas Rangers to step in and investigate the entire Fort Bend County Democrat Party and see where this all leads."
Fort Bend County Judge KP George sent ABC13 the following statement:
"I have fully complied with the search warrant executed, during which my cellular devices and computer were seized. I was informed, by the Texas Rangers and the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office, that these items were requested as part of an investigation where I am considered a witness, not a target. I have not been charged with any crime, nor do I expect to be. While I respect the legal process, and willingly complied with the search warrant, I must express my deep disappointment in how this event was conducted. Had I been treated with courtesy and respect, I would have voluntarily surrendered the requested items in person to the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. Instead, the aggressive and unnecessary approach used has fueled unwarranted speculation, led to public slander, and created an unsafe environment for both my family and me. I have retained legal counsel to ensure my rights are fully protected throughout this process."
