Texas Democrat pleads guilty to posting fake racist comments in order to garner sympathy
A former Democratic political candidate from Texas has pleaded guilty after being accused of using fake social media accounts to hurl racist abuse at himself and his boss to gain voter sympathy in their respective races.
Taral Patel, 31, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of misrepresentation of identity by a candidate, according to the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office. He agreed to a two-year probation and to complete 200 community service hours.
Patel, who ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner in November last year, also admitted to committing one of the misdemeanors along with Fort Bend County Judge KP George in 2022 when he was vying for re-election. Patel was George's chief of staff at the time. George denies any wrongdoing.
The investigation into Patel began in September 2023 when inflammatory messages began surfacing on Facebook, using racial slurs against him and, in turn, calling for support of his GOP opponent Andy Meyers, according to charging documents.
'Was he even born here? Probably communist,' one of the comments believed to be written by Patel read.
'I am against fake gods and their worshippers winning office in [a] Christian Nation,' another added. 'I am with Meyers ALL THE WAY because he serves Jesus unlike Patel…'
Patel turned screengrabs of the posts into a collage and uploaded them to his Facebook profile. He also accused President Donald Trump, who at the time was vying to be at the top of the GOP ticket, and 'today's extremist Republican party' of inciting such rhetoric.
'When my Republican opponent's supporters decide to hurl #racist, #anti-immigrant, #Hinduphobic, or otherwise disgusting insults at my family, faith community, colleagues, and me - that crosses a line,' he said in September 2023, sharing the collage.
A day later, he posted: 'My family and I are overwhelmed from the outpouring of love and kindness from community members spanning every political and demographic divide as we collectively work together to overcome the challenges ahead.'
Investigators with the DA's office connected one of the accounts using the name 'Antonio Scalywag' after they sent subpoenas to Facebook and Google. The account included a profile picture of a Needville, an investigator with the DA's office said.
Patel also issued a news release containing a collage of attacks made from the Scalywag account, prosecutors said.
Patel was initially detained in June 2024 for online impersonation and misrepresentation of identity. He was indicted in September on four felony counts of online impersonation with intent to injure a candidate, per court filings.
George, a Democrat, has also been charged in the case and accused of working alongside Patel to sway the outcome of an election against Republican candidate Trever Nehls in his 2022 re-election race.
In a search warrant from September 2024, authorities accused George of working with Patel using the Scalywag alias to post racist social media posts targeting himself to garner sympathy, which the defendant denies.
George was also charged last week with money laundering in a separate case, involving an amount between $30,000 and $150,000.
Patel could have to testify against his former boss, according to Charron Thompson, the chief prosecutor for the Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unit.
In his required apology letter to the Fort Bend County community written on Tuesday, Patel said he was 'deeply remorseful' and asked the public for 'grace and kindness.'
'I recognize that seeking redemption is the work of a lifetime ahead, and I will treat this second chance for what it is: the opportunity to take responsibility and shape my life around service,' he wrote.
District Attorney Brian Middleton said in a statement that the community can now move forward.
'Justice and accountability were achieved today when Taral Patel accepted responsibility and pled guilty to the offenses,' he said.
'We believe the terms of the plea bargain are fair for the community and for the defendant. Now we can all move forward.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Teen, 19, dies after viral social media ‘dusting' challenge went wrong leaving family ‘utterly devastated'
The teen's heartbroken dad Aaron O'Rouke described how his daughter dreamed of fame Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TEEN has died after taking part in the viral "dusting" challenge that went wrong leaving her family "utterly devastated". Renna O'Rourke, 19, from Arizona, tragically passed on Sunday after being in an intensive care unit for a week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Renna O'Rourke, 19, from Arizona, tragically passed on Sunday Credit: Facebook 3 Renna and her boyfriend used an app delivery service to have the cleaning agent delivered to their door Credit: Facebook Dusting involves young people inhaling aerosols like spray deodorant, paint thinner or keyboard cleaners. Renna went into cardiac arrest before later being declared brain dead after using a cleaning product to take part in the deadly challenge. The teen's heartbroken dad Aaron O'Rouke described how his daughter dreamed of fame. He told AZFamily: "She always said, 'I'm gonna be famous, Dad. Just you watch. I'm gonna be famous', and unfortunately this is not under the most optimal of circumstances." Aaron and his wife Dana shared their daughter's tragic story to raise awareness of the social media challenge. Dana said: "There's no ID required. It's odorless. It's everything kids look for. "They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test." The mom explained how Renna and her boyfriend used an app delivery service to have the cleaning agent delivered to their door. She told 12news: "[Renna] and her boyfriend had Door Dashed product to my house and I didn't know. "It's keyboard cleaner. I didn't know what they were doing with it. Pheobe Bishop cops arrest 34-year-old flatmate who was last to see missing Aussie teen on explosive journey to airport "We want to make sure that we use our tragedy so that no other parent has to experience looking at their child on life support and a ventilator and not breathing on her own all because she huffed out of a can." Dr. Randy Weisman, from the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, explained how inhaling aerosols can make users feel drunk or euphoric for a few minutes. But such use can result in liver failure, heart failure and lung disease among other irreversible issues - or death. He told AZFamily: "This is extremely concerning. "When they inhale these chemicals in the gas it will actually replace the oxygen within their lungs and within the rest of their body." Renna's parents said that the only light to come from her passing is that her organs have gone on to save at least six other people. Mom Dana said: "Through that we're finding strength and purpose. "She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now. "She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives, but if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now." A post on the GoFundMe set up for Renna read: "On Sunday, June 1st at 1:30pm, our wonderful daughter, after 4 days in the ICU, was pronounced brain dead. "She was the light in every room she walked into, and the pain that her family and friends feel is simply immeasurable. "We want to use the proceeds of this fundraiser to cover the extensive medical bills, burial costs, therapy costs, and to spread awareness about the dangers of Huffing/Dusting, the practice of inhaling keyboard cleaner or similar."
Graziadaily
2 hours ago
- Graziadaily
The Reaction To Greta Thunberg's Potential Kidnapping Is Disturbing
Activists on board the aid boat to Gaza, including Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham, will be deported today after being diverted by Israeli forces. The ship was on course to deliver supplies to Gaza with Israel warning ahead of the voyage that they would take 'whatever measures are necessary' to prevent it reaching its destination. This morning, after three days at sail, Thunberg tweeted a video saying, 'If you see this video we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel.' Immediately, 'Has Greta Thunberg been kidnapped?' began to trend on Google, with breakout search for whether or not she'd been arrested or detained. Now, Israel's foreign ministry says the ship carrying 12 activists is being diverted to an Israeli port where 'arrangements will be made for their return to their respective home countries.' Amnesty International have released a statement in response, saying that Israel has shown a 'chilling contempt' for international law by blocking aid getting into Gaza. '[It has] an international obligation to ensure safe access to food and essential supplies for Gaza's civilians,' Secretary General Agnes Callamard says. 'Activists would not have had to risk their lives if Israel's allies had turned their words into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza.' Greta Thunberg on Freedom Flotilla aid ship for Gaza. Credit: Getty ©Getty The online reaction to the news has also been concerning. Namely, the jokes made at Thunberg's expense when reports first emerged that she could have been kidnapped. According to Google Trends, 'Greta Thunberg meme' is a breakout search term for the 22-year-old, with a picture of her being handed a sandwich by Israeli forces quickly going viral in the wake of the ship being intercepted. 'I always let my hostages make selfie videos and post them on the internet too,' one person responded to her video. 'She caved at the first free snack,' another said. 'So brave! So courageous! Greta Thunberg and the Madleen Freedom Flotilla bravely shat their pants and surrendered today,' a third added. GB News host Andrew Pierce branded Thunberg 'appalling', saying 'She's so appalling, isn't she?... I loved the response to the Israeli military, that it is a boat full of virtue signalling, celebrities taking selfies.' In reporting the news of Thunberg's potential kidnap this morning, The Sun went with the headline 'Learn A Lesson: Greta to be made to watch Oct 7 atrocity vid after Israel stop boat stunt'. None of the same vitriol shared above was aimed at the other 11 activists on board the ship. For example Cunningham, who has also been used to publicise the voyage, is not named in any headlines about the ship being diverted apart from one straight news story by the Irish Star. Yet there's a unique level of anger that's saved for Thunberg whenever she attempts to raise awareness of various humanitarian crises. Her age, gender, appearance and neurodivergence are consistently used as an insult against her by those who seek to invalidate her opinions or diminish her cause. In 2019, aged just 16, she was forced to respond to a viral article about her by the Herald Sun's Andrew Bolt after he called Thunberg 'deeply disturbed' - referring to her Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, as well as having OCD. 'I have never seen a girl so young with so many mental disorders treated by so many adults as a guru,' he wrote, calling her a 'strange girl'. 'I am indeed 'deeply disturbed' about the fact that these hate and conspiracy campaigns are allowed to go on and on and on just because we children communicate and act on the science,' Thunberg responded. 'Where are the adults?' Years later, she still faces abuse, targeted with fake photos, conspiracy theories and outright death threats. But what is it about the psyche of these largely older male trolls who feel so threatened by Thunberg? Clearly the fact she's a young, passionate, atypical woman is something they can't stand. One Twitter user said it best. 'Gotta love all the 40yr olds whose only contribution to the world is paying their HOA fees on time losing their minds on a girl who takes action for what she believes, and *wow*, thinks civilians should have food and water. Brave people they sure are.' What is it about the psyche of these, largely older male, trolls that feels so threatened by Thunberg? Whatever comes of this haunting story is certainly nothing to joke about. Rather than jumping to insult her endeavour, or to diminish the bravery Thunberg's shown, should we not all be hoping for her safe onward journey – and the aid to get to Gaza? To see an effort of such courage turned into a joke, merely because some corners of the internet can't stand to see a young woman with strong opinions, when so many lives are at stake is horrendous. If there were ever a time to resist making a meme of a global crisis, it's now.
NBC News
2 hours ago
- NBC News
Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip to face new murder trial but without death penalty
Oklahoma's top prosecutor said Monday the state intends to pursue a new murder trial against inmate Richard Glossip but without the death penalty after the U.S. Supreme Court vacated his capital conviction in a rare victory for a death row prisoner. State Attorney General Gentner Drummond's decision to retry Glossip, 62, on a first-degree murder charge came out of a status conference hearing. In a news release, Drummond said, the evidence still implicates him in the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. Glossip, a motel manager working for Van Treese, has maintained his innocence while he was on death row for almost three decades. While Drummond, a Republican, has not agreed with Glossip's innocence claims, he was supportive of the Supreme Court's ruling in February, when the majority of justices, he said, agreed "it is now an undeniable fact that he did not receive a fair trial." He said in a statement Monday that he would ensure Glossip receives an impartial one now. "While it was clear to me and to the U.S. Supreme Court that Mr. Glossip did not receive a fair trial, I have never proclaimed his innocence," Drummond said. "After the high court remanded the matter back to district court, my office thoroughly reviewed the merits of the case against Richard Glossip and concluded that sufficient evidence exists to secure a murder conviction." Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna, a Democrat, had previously indicated that Glossip would not be eligible for the death penalty now if he were to be retried. Drummond said he would seek a life sentence for Glossip at his next trial. "While I cannot go back 25 years and handle the case in the proper way that would have ensured true justice, I still have a duty to seek the justice that is available today," he added. The continuation of the state's prosecution against Glossip resumes a twisting case that saw him dodge death several times with nine separate execution dates that had to be postponed. Various courts had delayed the executions as he appealed, while state corrections officials also came under scrutiny a decade ago for botched execution attempts. But Glossip's case had been championed in recent years by a bipartisan group of Oklahoma legislators after an indepe n dent report they commissioned in 2022 found that "no reasonable jury hearing the complete record would convict Glossip of first-degree murder." The report centered on the state's primary witness, Justin Sneed, who had confirmed to the report's investigators that he had discussions with multiple family members about "recanting" his testimony over an 11-year period. Investigators also said the district attorney's case file included documentation describing how the state provided Sneed information "so he could conform his testimony to match the evidence" from other witnesses. Glossip's original 1998 conviction was overturned in 2001, when a state appeals court found that the evidence against him was weak. But the state took him to trial again, and a second jury found him guilty in 2004. At Glossip's trial, Sneed, a motel handyman, admitted that he killed Van Treese, but said that it was at Glossip's direction and that he had been promised $10,000. In exchange for testifying against Glossip, Sneed received a life sentence while Glossip was given the death penalty. Prosecutors said Glossip orchestrated the plot because he was embezzling from the motel and feared being fired. The Supreme Court tossed out Glossip's capital conviction in a 5-3 ruling. Justice Neil Gorsuch did not participate, presumably because he was involved in the case when he was on a federal appeals court that includes Oklahoma. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in the majority's ruling that prosecutors "knew Sneed's statements were false" and that "because Sneed's testimony was the only direct evidence of Glossip's guilt of capital murder, the jury's assessment of Sneed's credibility was necessarily determinative here." "Hence, there is a reasonable likelihood that correcting Sneed's testimony would have affected the judgment of the jury," she added. After the Supreme Court's decision, Glossip was moved off death row, but was held without bail in the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a first-degree murder charge. A next court date in Glossip's case is scheduled for June 17. Glossip's attorney, Don Knight, did not immediately comment about the prosecutors' decision, but had welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling in February that spared his longtime client from the death chamber. "He had nine execution dates, three last meals, and obviously, to finally get relief has been huge for him," Knight said, "and he's thrilled beyond words."
