Fort Bend County Judge KP George has issued a two-page personal statement addressing the misdemeanor charge brought against him, calling the case politically motivated and demanding that both the District Attorney and presiding judge recuse themselves due to conflicts of interest.
Background of the Case
A grand jury indicted Judge George last year on a Class A misdemeanor for allegedly misrepresenting the identity of a candidate during his 2022 campaign. The charge is tied to allegations that George and his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, coordinated a social media hoax to gain political support. Patel was arrested in June 2024 on a felony charge of online misrepresentation for his role in the scheme.
In his statement, George maintained his innocence and described the case as a politically driven attack meant to silence and intimidate him.
George Claims “Abuse of Power” in Investigation
The judge detailed what he called unfair treatment during the investigation, including:
- The seizure of his electronic devices upon returning from a trip, which he claims was done under false pretenses.
- Being initially told he was only a witness, only to later be categorized as a defendant behind closed doors.
- The Fort Bend County DA’s Office allegedly lacking jurisdiction but pushing forward with charges anyway.
- Prosecutors allegedly changing Texas Ethics Commission rules overnight to justify the indictment.
- The case being leaked to the media before he was officially booked.
Claims of Mistreatment During Booking
George also alleged that he was treated unfairly during his booking process, stating that he:
- Was forced to wear jail clothing and placed in a cell for nearly three hours.
- Had his U.S. passport confiscated and was labeled a flight risk, despite being a longtime U.S. citizen and elected official.
- Was subjected to an unnecessary hold by ICE, despite his U.S. citizenship.
Sheriff Disputes ICE Claim
Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan responded to George’s allegations, stating:
“Anybody who enters our county jail and tells us they are not a naturally born U.S. citizen, ICE is contacted. ICE then determines whether to place a hold on that individual. There was no ICE hold placed on KP George. He was treated like everyone else. Saying a hold was placed is not true.”
When KPRC 2 shared this response with George, he replied: “That is his opinion, and that is perfectly fine,” before declining to answer further questions.
Call for DA and Judge Recusal
At the conclusion of his statement, George demanded that the DA and judge overseeing his case recuse themselves, citing conflicts of interest:
- As County Judge, George oversees budgets for the DA’s Office and judiciary, which he argues creates an ethical conflict.
- DA Brian Middleton and Judge Christian Becerra previously worked together, and Becerra is now running against George in the 2026 County Judge election.
- Becerra signed a warrant in the case, which George claims violates judicial ethics under Texas Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 2.
However, the Fort Bend County DA’s Office refuted George’s claim, stating that Judge Becerra is not overseeing the case. While Becerra did sign a warrant during the investigation, the case is now being handled by Judge Teanna Watson’s court.
DA’s Office Responds to George’s Statement
The DA’s office issued the following response:
KP George issued a statement today claiming that his prosecution for the misdemeanor charge of Misrepresentation of Identity is politically motivated. The Fort Bend County DA’s Office remains committed to serving the people and upholding the law, regardless of who is implicated.
“The investigation into the allegations is ongoing, and George’s statement does not change our position. While we recognize the publicity surrounding his remarks, legal ethics prevent us from making public statements that could impact court proceedings. We will continue to present our case in court and seek justice for the community.”
For more updates on this developing case, follow Texas Times.
