KP George, the Democrat County Judge of Ft. Bend County, was indicted yesterday on a charge of misrepresentation of identity in a campaign communication. It is alleged that George was involved in the posting of racist social media comments on his Facebook page under the alias “Antonio Scalywag,” which George then used as the basis for claims that he was a victim of “racist attacks.”
George, who was born in India, was first elected Fort Bend County Judge in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.
Taral Patel, George’s former Chief of Staff and a former Biden administration official, was indicted earlier this month on charges of online impersonation and misrepresentation of identity. Patel, who is the Democratic nominee for Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner this year, is also alleged to have manufactured fake racist social media posts to portray himself as a victim of racist attacks.
According to a search warrant released last week, George and Patel allegedly worked together on using the fake social media account to benefit George’s 2022 re-election campaign. According to an affidavit filed by a Texas Ranger who was involved in the investigation of the matter, the Ranger “observed text messages from Patel to KP George that tend to suggest that KP George may have known that Patel was using fake social media accounts to benefit KP George’s re-election campaign.”
In addition to using the hoax social media posts to cast himself as a victim, George is also alleged to have used them to justify a taxpayer-funded security detail.
In response to a Houston Chronicle article about George’s extensive security detail, Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers wrote, “I appreciate the Houston Chronicle covering this basic issue – If investigators have determined that the threats against County Judge KP George are fake racism, allegedly posted by my opponent Taral Patel with KP’s knowledge, why does the Judge need a taxpayer funded security detail and a $70,000 Tahoe to be chauffeured by a deputy who could be on the street protecting our residents and our neighborhoods? And, why has his security detail gone from one deputy to four deputies in recent days while the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office has 130 vacancies? Commissioner’s Court is doing all it can to help the Sheriff’s Office and then the Sheriff’s use his resources to protect a man from threats that everyone seems to agree are phony.”
Meyers, a longtime Republican Ft. Bend County Commissioner, is being opposed by Patel in the November general election.
Fort Bend County residents and community leaders have strongly condemned George’s alleged conduct and have called for his resignation.
Garrett Fulce, the host of the “Seeing Red” podcast and a Ft. Bend County resident, told The Texas Voice, “KP George’s deception disenfranchised and slandered the conservative voters of Ft. Bend County. If he possesses a shred of honor or cares for his constituents, he will resign and plead guilty.”
State Representative Jacey Jetton, who represents a portion of Ft. Bend County, took to social media to call for George’s resignation. “KP George‘s indictment has finally come to fruition. This is a disheartening blemish on our wonderful county. The division and hate fueled by the actions of KP and Taral Patel have no place in our county. KP has broken the trust of the people and should resign immediately. We deserve leaders that will bring the people of our county together,” said Jetton.
Bobby Eberle, the Chairman of the Ft. Bend County Republican Party, denounced George for stoking racism for political gain.
“Democrats claim to be defenders of democracy, yet KP George is alleged to have resorted to the lowest of the low — stoking racism within our diverse community — in order to paint his Republican opponent as a racist. This type of action should be denounced by everyone in Fort Bend County, regardless of political affiliation,” said Eberle.
“KP George should resign and save the Democrats any further embarrassment. Fort Bend County is the most diverse county in the state, and it deserves leadership that respects this great community instead of trying to divide it with false claims of racism.”
