CAMPAIGN CONSULTANT EXPLAINS WHAT SHE SAW DURING JUDGE GEORGE'S RE-ELECTION
During Friday's testimony in George's trial, Pat Strong took the stand. She runs Strong Strategies.
Strong said she primarily works with Democrats to help their campaigns with fundraising and handling financial reports. She talked about the importance of how campaign funds are used.
"It's campaign money, not their money," Strong explained. Strong said George's campaign hired her in April 2021.
She said the campaign wasn't sure how much money it had on hand. To keep records in order, Strong said she wanted to take over.
However, once she was hired, she said no one in the campaign would share the account information, or provide bank statements. "How did it make you feel?" a prosecutor asked. "I was frustrated," Strong recalled.
Strong said she decided to open a new campaign bank account. George, she recalled, made a deposit into the new account from the old campaign account.
When she asked for documents tied to the money, so she could complete a campaign finance report, Strong said George sent a one-page paper showing what was spent, and how much money was on hand.
"Did that strike you as strange?" the prosecutor asked. "Yes," Strong said. "Why?" asked the prosecutor. "It appeared to be really simple," Strong responded.
After about an hour, George's defense attorney, Jared Woodfill, asked questions. He focused on whether candidates are allowed to give themselves loans, and repay them.
Strong said candidates are legally allowed to do it. She was more unsure if candidates are allowed to pay themselves back if they run for a different race.
"I don't know," Strong said. "I'd have to call someone and ask." Woodfill also questioned her if George's indictment impacted his 2026 campaign.
She told jurors that she declined hosting a fundraising event for him because she couldn't raise him any money.
AFTER WATCHING ABC13'S COVERAGE, THE WITNESS DUG DEEPER INTO GEORGE'S CAMPAIGNS
On Thursday, ABC13 reported how Woodfill questioned a district attorney investigator about George's prior campaigns. The defense insists George loaned himself money when he ran for county treasurer in 2009, U.S. Congress in 2012, and Fort Bend ISD trustee.
SEE ALSO: Opening statements in Fort Bend County Judge KP George's trial focus on $46,500 campaign funds
Strong said after watching the coverage, she decided to look up George's congressional campaign report. She said she saw George loaned his campaign $19,400.
She said she didn't see the reports from the other campaigns. The trial is centered around the prosecutions claim that George transferred $46,500 in 2019 from his campaign account to his personal savings account.
They said he used the money to pay for HOA dues, taxes he owned in Fort Bend County and Brazoria County, and a down payment on a new home. Prosecutors said George had repaid himself in the past, and marked it on financial reports.
They said George didn't mark the 2019 transfers on his campaign finance report.
George's attorneys asked DA investigator, John Bohannon on Thursday if he had looked at George's prior campaigns for how much money he loaned himself. The investigator said he did not.
TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXPLAINS WHAT CANDIDATES CAN DO
The final witness called to the stand on Friday was Texas Ethics Commission executive director, James Tinley. He was questioned about how candidates file campaign finance reports.
He told jurors that there were issues with the forms George filed in 2019, and he would've had questions for him if it was brought to the TEC. When asked if the TEC did investigate George, or received a complaint, Tinley said complaints remain unknown until they reach a certain level in the investigation. He added there are no public investigations into George by the TEC.
Tinley said looking at George's county judge campaign finance reports, it appears he said George knew how to disclose giving the campaign a personal loan, and how to repay it. Something he said was shown in the 2019 report, which showed George repaid a $3,000 personal loan.
However, he said there's nothing showing a repayment of $46,500 on the documents. An amount prosecutors said George transferred from his campaign account to a personal account.
Woodfill asked Tinley if he was aware of George's prior campaigns, and if he saw those campaign finance reports.
Tinley said he did not. The TEC executive director told jurors that candidates are allowed to repay themselves from previous campaigns, and they don't have to show the outstanding loan during new campaign reports.
However, he added that if a candidate does make a repayment, it must be documented.
'FEELING GOOD': GEORGE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC
As George walked into the courtroom on Friday, ABC13's Nick Natario asked him how he's feeling. George said, "I'm feeling good, man. Absolutely good."
He may not have to wait much longer for the jury to get the case. Prosecutors said they have one more witness to call to the stand.
They anticipate wrapping up their case on Monday. As for George's team, Woodfill told ABC13 they might call three witnesses. Previously, they've talked about calling County Commissioner Dexter McCoy and George's former chief of staff, Taral Patel.
As for George, Woodfill said he doesn't know yet if he'll take the stand in his own defense.
His team told ABC13 on Tuesday that it'll depend on how the trial goes. George faces 10 years behind bars if convicted.
While a jury will decide his fate, they wouldn't pick the punishment. George elected to have the trial judge do that.
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