Fort Bend County Judge KP George, the top elected official in a suburban Houston county, has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge for allegedly creating fake and racist social media posts during his 2022 re-election campaign. The indictment accuses George of misrepresenting his identity as a Facebook user named “Antonio Scalywag” in a campaign communication on September 26, 2022, posted on his Facebook page to potentially influence the election outcome or harm a candidate, however, the specific election and candidate were not detailed in the indictment.
During the time of the alleged actions, George, a Democrat, was running for re-election as county judge against Trever Nehls, the twin brother of Texas congressman Troy Nehls. As a county judge in Texas, George held the role of the chief executive officer of the county. The indictment stemmed from authorities accusing George of collaborating with his former chief of staff, Taral Patal, to utilize the “Antonio Scalywag” alias to share racist social media content aimed at George, possibly to generate sympathy for the county judge. Subsequently, George’s cell phones and computer were confiscated after a search warrant was executed on September 17.
George, a person of Indian descent who attained U.S. citizenship, made history as the first individual of color to serve as county judge in Fort Bend County, which is situated southwest of Houston and has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Initially elected as county judge in 2018, George’s reputation is now marred by the indictment he faces. In parallel, Patal, George’s former chief of staff who is currently a candidate for the county commissioner role, was previously indicted on charges related to online impersonation and misrepresentation of identity, with allegations that he also manipulated social media under the guise of “Antonio Scalywag” to advance his own campaign.
In response to the indictment, a spokesperson for George stated that the county judge would not provide immediate comments. The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, which spearheaded the investigation, declined to offer a statement. Frank Yeverino, Patel’s lawyer, did not respond promptly to requests for commentary. George had asserted in a previous statement that he considered himself a witness rather than a target of the investigation, emphasizing that he had not been charged with any offenses and did not anticipate facing charges.
Despite George’s position, at least one Fort Bend County commissioner, Vincent Morales, advocated for his resignation following the indictment. The legal proceedings against George and Patal highlight a contentious and ethically questionable chapter in Fort Bend County’s local politics, raising concerns about deceit and manipulation in electoral processes.