John Jefferson
Background: Fort Bend County Judge KP George oversees his first commissioners court meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Richmond, Va. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP). Inset: Kyle Prasad George (Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office).
A Texas judge and his former chief of staff have been indicted for allegedly making racist posts against the judge’s political opponent through fake Facebook profiles using the name “Antonio Scalywag.”
Fort Bend County Judge Kyle Prasad “KP” George was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of misrepresenting identity as a candidate, court documents show. George is accused of working with his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, to post racist remarks during the 2022 election that pretended to be targeting George, a native of India and the first person of color to serve in the role when he was first elected in 2018.
Law&Crime has previously reported about Patel’s arrest for fake comments he allegedly made about himself. He was a candidate for county office who allegedly impersonated racists online — attacking himself with racist and xenophobic posts — to bring attention to his campaign. Frank Yeverino, an attorney for Patel, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Law&Crime.
George, a Democrat, was running in his reelection against Republican Trever Nehls, who said the judge “weaponized racism.”
“The fact that our current county judge allegedly conspired to spread fake racist posts, not only to smear my character but also to manipulate voters and distort the truth, is a stain on our community and our political process,” Nehls said in a statement, the Houston Chronicle reported. “This is not only an attack on me personally but an attack on every voter who deserves a fair and transparent election.”
Fort Bend officials are calling for George to resign.
“As a resident of Fort Bend County and County Treasurer, I am deeply concerned about the ‘Fake Racism’ scandal and indictments of County Judge KP George and his former Chief of Staff, Taral Patel, who is running for Commissioner of Precinct 3,” said Fort Bend County Treasurer Bill Rickert in a statement to the Fort Bend Herald. “While everyone deserves a fair trial, the documented actions of these individuals have been deceptive and divisive, undermining the trust of our residents and damaging our county’s global reputation.”
In a statement, George, who is free on a $1,000 bond, said he has no intention of resigning, local CBS affiliate KHOU reported.
“Although I am disappointed by the charges brought against me, I am confident that when all the facts are presented, justice will prevail,” he said. “In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty, and I fully intend to prove my innocence in court.”
“Despite calls for my resignation, I have no intention of stepping down,” he added. “My focus remains on serving the people of Fort Bend County, as I was elected to do. My office and staff will continue working tirelessly on behalf of our residents, ensuring that the County’s business moves forward without interruption. I look forward to clearing my name and continuing the important work entrusted to me by the voters.”
George is the county’s highest elected official, overseeing 3,600 employees and managing a more than $650 million budget.
His campaign page talked about his up-by-the-bootstraps story of growing up in a tiny village in India and immigrating to the U.S. in 1993 on a work visa for a financial firm.
“Getting an education meant walking barefoot to the local schoolhouse and doing homework by the light of a kerosene lamp in the family’s thatch-straw hut,” the page said. “After years of balancing schoolwork with helping out on the family farm, Judge George achieved his life goal: coming to the land of opportunity and living the American Dream.”
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Read the full article here