Posted on 06/14/2024 11:55:57 AM PDT by grundle
Several subpoenas issued to connect Patel to attacks according to the legal records
HOUSTON – In Fort Bend County, investigators say online impersonation in a key political race resulted in handcuffs for a politician who was viewed by many within Democratic circles as a candidate on the rise.
Now there are questions of “What’s next?” after Democrat Taral Patel was arrested on Wednesday on third-degree felony charge of online impersonation and a Class-A misdemeanor charge of misrepresentation of identity.
The arrest comes weeks after Patel secured the Democratic nomination in the race for County Commissioner of Precinct 3.
“That does not preclude that candidate continuing to run for office, that position,” Renea Hicks, an elections attorney said regarding Patel’s arrest and its impact on his candidacy.
Investigators say Patel portrayed himself as someone he is not over the internet, a violation of Texas Penal Code when done without proper consent and with the intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten any person according to the code.
In legal records obtained by KPRC 2 Investigates, authorities say the acts of impersonation were done an account allegedly created by Patel under a different persona, where he attacked candidates—including racial attacks on himself or claimed to work with them. The usage of this account occurred online beginning in October 2022 and lasting through May of this year.
Authorities said that a statement released by Patel himself played a key role in the investigation.
In September of 2023, Patel released the following statement after claiming that he received racist messages on social media.
“As your Democratic candidate for County Commissioner, I am always open to criticism of my policy positions and stances on issues. However, when my Republican opponents supporters’ decide to hurl #racist, #anti-immigrant, #Hinduphobic, or otherwise disgusting insults at my family, faith community, colleagues, and me - that crosses a line. Fort Bend County’s diversity has made us all stronger, and these hateful images, a small sample attached here, are from a place of deep and misguided fear - incited by people like former President Donald Trump and today’s extremist Republican party fear that immigrants are ‘taking their jobs’ and setting out to hurt our own communities.”
The posts Patel was responding to are believed to be linked to the investigation that landed him behind bars.
Investigators say the acts took place primarily on Facebook. Grand jury subpoenas were issued to Meta Platforms, Google, Comcast, T-Mobile and JP Morgan Chase Bank to track the information and link it back to Patel, according to legal records.
Patel has yet to release a comment to KPRC 2 Investigates following his arrest, so it is unclear what his position is with regards to November’s election.
If Patel were to withdraw on his own because of the arrest, Democrats in Fort Bend County would have to focus on a write-in candidate, according to multiple election attorneys we spoke with on Thursday.
“The question would be, does the executive committee of the Fort Bend County Democrats have the authority—in the event this candidate withdrawals—to nominate a replacement? The short answer is no,” said Hicks.
Patel returned to run in Fort Bend County after serving in President Joe Biden’s Administration and attending law school in the Washington D.C. area.
Prior to this incident, Patel served as County Judge KP George’s first chief of staff. George released the following statement on Thursday:
“As a public official, I address the recent events involving a former employee with a deep sense of concern. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, I emphasize the vital importance of upholding the principles of due process and impartial investigation. I trust that this matter will be examined without prejudice. While awaiting additional information, I reaffirm my commitment to ensuring justice and accountability. I look forward to gaining a complete understanding of the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident.”
Andy Meyers, the longtime Republican incumbent, did not weigh-in on Patel’s arrest, since he says it’s a matter involving the DA’s office and the Rangers.
Meyers instead made it clear he is focused on continuing to serve the citizens of Fort Bend County through “mobility projects, repairing and replacing the streets in our oldest subdivisions, Brazos Ricer erosion control, flood mitigation and strengthening the grid.”
Patel? He’s learned essential political gimmicky tricks them people often use.
The new version of spray painting slurs on your own garage door.
A dim Patel however you slice it.
I will never forget a Patel who ran a hotel I stayed at, in the mid-90s, in a smallish midwestern city.
Incredibly, the entire hotel smelled of his curry cooking. It was in the vents and hallways. My room and my clothes, IN MY SECOND FLOOR ROOM, strongly smelled of his curry meals in the lobby, that whole week, and my room was at least a dozen rooms away from the lobby.
Patel, is that you? That sounds #HinduPhobic to me.
Of course it’s a cliche, but I’ll say it anyway: if we had a curious media, we’d see stories about how just about all of these types of incidents turn out to be hoaxes
Where the hell in Texas is Fort Bend County?
Is it a red area where this guy is unlikely to win anyways?
Interstingly, the demographic makeup is across the board.
Fort Bend County, Texas - Demographic Profile (NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pop 2020 . . . . % 2020
White alone (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243,726 . . . . 29.62%
Black or African American alone (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167,964 . . . . 20.41%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . 1,269 . . . . 0.15%
Asian alone (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 181,522 . . . . 22.06%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 . . . . 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,055 . . . . 0.49%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25,387 . . . . 3.09%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198,580 . . . . 24.14%
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822,779 . . . . 100.00%
It flipped from red to blue in 2016, but not by much.
The largest city located entirely within the county borders is Sugar Land. The largest city by population in the county is Houston; however, most of Houston’s population is located in neighboring Harris County.
Fort Bend County is included in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 822,779. In 2017, Forbes ranked it the fifth-fastest growing county in the United States.
In 2015, Fort Bend County became Texas’s wealthiest county, with a median household income of $95,389 and a median family income of $105,944, surpassing Collin and Rockwall Counties since the 2000 census.
It is #CurryPhobic, for sure, at least for business trips, in my hotel room.
Media figure?
Patel can be loosely translated as innkeeper.
I’ve done 83 night in hotels so far this year. Many in Patel hotels. Some of them are excellent, others are as you describe.
There is an art to hospitality.
The answers to all of your questions (with better and more recent data) -- and even a map.
Demographics for Fort Bend County, TX
Election data for Fort Bend County, TX
As with so many similar places, their demographic deterioration has led directly to their electoral deterioration.
The standards there are as twisted at the demographic would lead you to expect.
“Wanted to start a conversation.”
Bad Apu!
My ex wife has a large veterinary clinic across from the Fort Bend Country Club. She still votes conservative but I’m surprised the area has turned blue.
The evidence of racism and white supremacy hate is so overwhelming, Democrat candidates have to create fake personas on social media in order to prove it exists..
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