Image Credit: Photo by FBI
Fort Bend County, Texas: Fort Bend County Judge KP George is facing a misdemeanor charge related to misrepresenting his identity as a candidate.
The charge is linked to allegations that he and a former staff member used a fake social media account during his 2022 re-election campaign.
Key Facts:
- George allegedly conspired with his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, to create a fake Facebook account named "Antonio Scalywag" to post racist comments aimed at generating sympathy for George during his campaign.
- A new Harris County warrant revealed George may have attempted to perform a factory reset on his phone before it was seized by Texas Rangers.
- Patel, also implicated in the scandal, faces four felony charges of online impersonation and identity misrepresentation related to his 2024 campaign.
On Sept. 18, Texas Rangers visited George’s Richmond home to seize his phone, during which George was observed manipulating the device multiple times.
The Rangers noted over 15 unsuccessful passcode attempts, raising suspicion that George may have been trying to erase evidence.
The device was set to trigger a factory reset after 20 unsuccessful attempts, but no evidence appears to have been destroyed.
The investigation into George began when authorities were already looking into similar accusations against Patel, who was involved in using the "Antonio Scalywag" alias to post defamatory comments during his campaign for Precinct 3 county commissioner.
This fake account, which targeted South Asian communities and used offensive language, was allegedly linked back to Patel through email and phone records.
“Despite the charges, I am confident that when all the facts are presented, justice will prevail. My focus remains on serving the people of Fort Bend County,” George stated.
The legal situation around Judge KP George has raised concerns about ethical practices in political campaigns and the misuse of social media to sway public opinion.
Calls for George’s resignation have intensified, but he has made it clear he has no intention of stepping down.
As the case unfolds, it will be closely watched by Fort Bend County residents and the broader political community in Texas.