A Democratic judge in Texas was arrested for allegedly using a fake Facebook page to direct racist comments toward himself in an attempt to gain sympathy and secure re-election.
Fort Bend County Judge KP George, a top elected official in the suburban Houston county, won a 2022 re-election bid against his Republican opponent, Trever Nehls.
An order obtained by KHO 11 shows that George’s cellular devices suggested he had been communicating with a co-worker who used a fake Facebook account under the name ‘Antonio Scalywag’ to interact with the judge’s posts and leave racist comments.
Fort Bend County Judge KP George was arrested for allegedly using a fake Facebook page to direct racist comments toward himself.
He allegedly worked with an employee to orchestrate online attacks in an attempt to gain sympathy and ensure his re-election in 2022.
George is accused of working hand in hand with his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, who worked as a consultant for George’s 2022 re-election campaign.
The warrant evidence obtained suggests that Patel was the one who left the racist comments, all with the judge’s permission.
Patel allegedly used the same tactic in his own campaign against Andy Meyers for a county commissioner position.
“The allegations are that George and Taral Patel coordinated the racist messages that were posted basically during their campaign to essentially make KP George a victim, obviously for the purpose of winning a political race,” Meyers told KHOU 11.
“They did it for their personal benefit, which I think is reprehensible.”
George is a US citizen but was born in India.
He was first elected county judge in 2018 and became the first person of color to serve as a judge in Fort Bend.
The allegations against the judge only came to light when the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation into Patel 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 a consultant for George’s 2022 re-election campaign.
A tweet from 2020 shows George posting a collage of racist comments he received, some from the alias ‘Antonio Scalywag.’
Patel also claimed that he was the target of the same attacks. Most of the comments on his social media were directed at South Asians, calling them terrorists. Some also mocked Hinduism.
The positions were under the family name of Antonio Scalywag.
One of the comments said: ‘Was he even born here? Probably communist
Another declared: ‘…I’m with Meyers ALL THE WAY…unlike Patel and his followers who worship the Monkey and the Elephant.’
The same alias account was attacking Meyers online before Patel launched his campaign against him.
Case investigator Evett Kelly determined that the alias account was attached to an associated email address and phone number for Patel, KHOU 11 reported.
In October 2022, Antonio Scalywag’s profile updated his profile picture from an IP address that was also associated with Patel.
He was arrested in June on a felony charge of online misrepresentation for his role in the hoax, according to Click 2 Houston.
George was charged with a Class A misdemeanor.
Patel allegedly used the same tactic in his own campaign for a county commissioner position.
According to the order, George issued a press release stating that he was the target of racist attacks on social media.
But Patel’s cell phone records included a conversation with contact name 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 District 1 Agent Chad Norvell suggested the judge resign, calling the situation “deeply embarrassing,” according to Click 2 Houston.
The commissioner of the same police station, Vicente Morales, also asked 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 charges.”
He stated in a statement Thursday that his focus remains solely on serving county residents, according to KHOU 11.
“While I am disappointed by the charges against me, I am confident that when all the facts are presented, justice will prevail,” the statement read.
‘In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty, and I have every intention of proving my innocence in court.
“I look forward to clearing my name and continuing the important work voters entrusted me with.”