ELECTIONS ATTORNEY SHARES A MUCH LOWER REPAYMENT FIGURE THAN PROSECUTORS
George is charged with two felony money laundering counts. Prosecutors told jurors he stole $46,500 from his campaign in 2019 to pay for his property taxes, HOA dues, and a new home. However, an elections attorney doesn't see it that way.
Andy Taylor, who's represented several high-profile politicians, mainly Republicans, told jurors he's an expert in the Texas Elections Code and has helped many candidates fill out campaign finance forms.
Taylor said jurors could be missing as many as 18 campaign finance reports from George's prior races when he ran for county treasurer and Fort Bend ISD trustee.
"He may not be negative at all," Taylor explained. "He may be way in the black (over), but we're missing data."
Prosecutors said the county no longer has those records. Taylor said he was told the county gets rid of them after five years.
If the forms existed, Taylor said, you could see how much money George loaned his campaign. In Texas, Taylor explained, candidates are allowed to loan their campaigns money and repay themselves.
If they run for a different office in the future, Taylor said that candidates don't even have to disclose the owed money on the new reports.
For the documents that prosecutors do have, Taylor said George overpaid himself $78.57, not $46,500.
"If someone would've made a complaint to the TEC, and they saw the issue was $78.57, it would've been immediately dismissed," Taylor said.
Taylor said he arrived at that amount by looking at bank records from 2016 to 2018, an outstanding county treasure campaign loan, and credit card statements. Prosecutors said George paid off credit card bills that weren't campaign-related and should count as repayment.
Taylor disagrees and said the campaign money could be used for some of those items.
While questioned by prosecutors, Taylor told jurors the defense is paying him $600 an hour. He said he's worked 70 hours so far, which means he's billed the defense at least $42,000.
TRIAL JUDGE DECIDES AGAINST ALLOWING A SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEO INTO EVIDENCE
On Tuesday, prosecutors said they wanted to call a witness to translate a video that was shared on George's social media platform during the recent primary. In it, prosecutors said George talked about money he loaned his campaign.
The problem prosecutors said was that George spoke in his native Indian language, Malayalam. Prosecutors wanted to call an officer to the stand to translate it. The judge said no and asked them to find a court-approved translator. Prosecutors said they did.
On Wednesday, Judge Maggie Jaramillo told prosecutors that, despite finding a translator, she wouldn't allow it to be entered into evidence. She cited language concerns and the fact that prosecutors didn't let the defense know about the video or witness until Tuesday.
JURORS ARE EXPECTED TO GET THE CASE ON THURSDAY
Taylor was the defense's last witness. They only called two.
George didn't take the stand in his defense. Defense attorneys told ABC13 it would depend on how the trial went as to whether George would testify.
Jaramillo told jurors to be back at 9 a.m. to hearing closing arguments. Then, she'll charge the jury before they deliberate.
If convicted, George faces 10 years behind bars and would be immediately removed from office. Although the jury is rendering a verdict, George elected to have the judge issue the punishment if he's convicted.
IS GEORGE STILL RECEIVING TAXPAYER MONEY WHILE HE'S ON TRIAL?
During the trial, some viewers asked ABC13 if George is still receiving his county judge salary while he sits in his felony trial. George receives about $190,000 a year in taxpayer money for serving as county judge.
When Eyewitness News asked the county human resource department about the trial and if he's still getting paid, the county payroll manager said, "Elected officials in Fort Bend County are compensated for all days while serving in office during each semi-monthly payroll period. Their compensation is established by statute and is not based on hours worked. Accordingly, these positions do not accrue vacation or sick leave balances."
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