Texas judge is busted for orchestrating racist online threats that helped him win re-election
A Democratic judge in Texas was busted for allegedly using a fake Facebook page to direct racist comments at himself in an effort to gain sympathy and secure re-election.
Fort Bend County Judge KP George, a top elected official in suburban Houston, won a 2022 reelection bid against his Republican opponent, Trever Nehls.
An order obtained by KHO 11 shows that George’s mobile devices suggested he had communicated with a colleague who used a fake Facebook account under the name “Antonio Scalywag” to interact with the judge’s messages and leave racist comments.
Fort Bend County Judge KP George was busted for allegedly using a fake Facebook page to direct racial slurs at himself
He is alleged to have worked with an associate to orchestrate online attacks in an attempt to gain sympathy and secure his re-election in 2022
George is accused of working closely with his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, who worked as an adviser to George’s 2022 re-election campaign.
Evidence from the arrest warrant obtained suggests that Patel was the one who left the racist comments – all with the judge’s permission.
Patel is said to have used the same tactic in his own campaign against Andy Meyers for a seat as county commissioner.
“The allegations are that George and Taral Patel coordinated the racist messages that were actually posted during his campaign to essentially victimize KP George for the clear purpose of winning a political race,” Meyers told KHOU 11.
“They did this for their personal gain, which I find reprehensible.”
George has American nationality, but was born in India.
He was first elected district judge in 2018, becoming the first person of color to ever serve as a judge in Fort Bend.
The allegations against the judge only came to light when Patel was investigated by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office for his own suspected crimes.
George is accused of working hand-in-hand with his former chief of staff, Taral Patel (pictured), who worked as an adviser to George’s 2022 re-election campaign.
A 2020 tweet shows George posting a collage of the racist comments he received – some under the alias ‘Antonio Scalywag’
Patel also claimed he was the target of the same attacks. Most of the comments on his social media were against South Asians, calling them terrorists. Some also joked about Hinduism.
The posts were under the well-known name Antonio Scalywag.
One of the responses read: ‘Was he even born here? Probably communist
Another said: ‘…I’m TOTALLY behind Meyers…unlike Patel and his Monkey and Elephant worshiping followers.’
The same alias account attacked Meyers online before Patel even launched his campaign against him.
The case’s investigator, Evett Kelly, determined that the alias account was linked to an associated email address and phone number for Patel, KHOU 11 reported.
In October 2022, Antonio Scalywag profile updated his profile picture from an IP address that was also linked to Patel.
He was arrested in June on charges of online misrepresentation for his role in the hoax Click on 2 Houston.
George was charged with a class A misdemeanor
Patel is said to have used the same tactic in his own campaign for a county commissioner seat
According to the warrant, George issued a press release claiming he had been the target of racist attacks on social media.
But Patel’s cellphone records include a conversation with contact KP George in which they discussed the press release and screenshots before Patel asked him to approve the release.
George was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail on Thursday and released on $1,000 bond.
Fort Bend County Precinct 1 Constable Chad Norvell suggested the judge resign, calling the situation “very embarrassing,” according to Click 2 Houston.
The commissioner of the same district, Vincent Morales, also called for the judge’s resignation.
But George maintains his innocence and has no plans to resign.
In a statement, George said he is ‘disappointed by the allegations’
He asserted in a statement Thursday that his focus remains solely on serving the residents of the county, according to KHOU 11.
“While I am disappointed by the charges filed against me, I am confident that when all the facts are presented, justice will prevail,” the statement said.
“In this country you are innocent until proven guilty, and I fully intend to prove my innocence in court.
“I look forward to clearing my name and continuing the important work entrusted to me by the voters.”