(The Center Square) – As a state criminal investigation is underway into voter fraud and bribery allegations in Zapata County, Democrats are calling on the state legislature and Department of Justice to act.
The Office of Texas Attorney General’s Criminal Division Election Integrity Unit launched an investigation into Zapata County elected officials, their family members and staff in an alleged vote harvesting and bribery conspiracy.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? yF=J[ D62C49 H2CC2?ED H6C6 6I64FE65 2E E96 C6D:56?46D @7 +2A2E2 r@F?EJ yF586 y@6 #2E9>6==[ 2?5 9:D H:76[ v:?2 #2E9>6==j @7 $96C:77 #2>@? |@?E6D[ 2?5 9:D H:76[ $@?:2 $2?496Kj @7 E96 D96C:77’D D64C6E2CJ[ }@C>2 v2C4:2[ 2?5 96C 9FD32?5[ r@C2?5@ q2CC6C2j @7 {2FC2 v2CK2 H9@ H@C<65 @? |@?E6D’ 2?5 #2E9>6==’D 42>A2:8?Dj 2?5 @7 yFDE:46 @7 E96 !6246 ~=82 qCF?:] !9@?6 2?5 32?< C64@C5D H6C6 D6:K65 2D A2CE @7 E96 :?G6DE:82E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ C646?E=J F?D62=65 277:52G:ED 6I4=FD:G6=J kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=60473f_hfd\dce`\cfdh\gdac\adfbdg54ad2b]9E>=Qm@3E2:?65 3Jk^2mk^DEC@?8m %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 :?G6DE:82E:@? H2D =2F?4965 27E6C 7@C>6C +2A2E2 r@F?EJ $96C:77 #2J>F?5@ s6= q@DBF6 =@DE 9:D |2C49 a_ac s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2CJ C246[ 2==68:?8 9:D @AA@?6?E 2?5 @E96CD 4@>>:EE65 G@E6C 7C2F5] w6 DF65 2?5 =@DE 9:D 4:G:= 42D6 2?5 E96 ~pv =2F?4965 :ED :?G6DE:82E:@? =2DE $6AE6>36C] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms6= q@DBF6[ 2 s6>@4C2E 2?5 =:76=@?8 C6D:56?E @7 +2A2E2 r@F?EJ[ H2D 7:CDE 6=64E65 D96C:77 :? a_a_] x? =6DD E92? EH@ J62CD[ 96 3642>6 2 <6J >6>36C @7 2? ~A6C2E:@? {@?6 $E2C %2D< u@C46 :?G@=G65 :? 3@C56C D64FC:EJ :?E6C5:4E:@? 677@CED] y@:?:?8 qC@@<D r@F?EJ $96C:77 q6??J |2CE:?6K[ s6= q@DBF6 H2D @?6 @7 E96 @?=J s6>@4C2ED :? E96 #:@ vC2?56 '2==6J E@ A2CE?6C :? E2C86E65 ~{$ @A6C2E:@?D E@ E9H2CE 42CE6= EC277:4<6CD 2?5 D>F88=6CD[ %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 6I4=FD:G6=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=60g3e7`3ae\4ehh\``66\2ad`\736e7`g3g3_h]9E>=QmkDEC@?8mC6A@CE65k^DEC@?8m]k^2mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms6= q@DBF6 2=D@ D64FC65 F?AC64656?E65 7F?5:?8 E9C@F89 ~{$ 8C2?ED E@ AFC492D6 ?6H G69:4=6D[ FA8C256 724:=:E:6D[ >@56C?:K6 E96 ;2:=[ AFC492D6 3@5J H@C? 42>6C2D[ 3@5J G6DED[ H62A@?D 2?5 2>>F?:E:@?[ 2?5 :>AC@G6 4@>>F?:42E:@? E649?@=@8J] %96 DE2E6 =68:D=2EFC6 2=D@ :?4C62D65 E96 D2=2C:6D @7 56AFE:6D’ 2?5 ;2:=6CD[ %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=60`eecebbc\4d6f\``66\gg32\5b`6haeghhd7]9E>=QmkDEC@?8mC6A@CE65k^DEC@?8m]k^2m k^Am
kAm}@H[ s6= q@DBF6 :D 42==:?8 @? E96 =68:D=2EFC6 E@ =2F?49 2? :?56A6?56?E :?G6DE:82E:@? 2?5 6?24E 255:E:@?2= 6=64E:@? :?E68C:EJ C67@C>D] (9:=6 96’D 8C2E67F= 7@C E96 ~pv :?G6DE:82E:@?[ 96 D2:5 “+2A2E2 r@F?EJ 56D6CG6D 2?DH6CD[ ?@E D:=6?46]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x 92G6 DA6?E >J =:76 36=:6G:?8 :? E96 32586[ E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?[ E96 CF=6 @7 =2H[ 2?5 E96 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ H6 92G6 E@ AC@E64E E96 A6@A=6 H6 D6CG6[” s6= q@DBF6 E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 :? 2? 6I4=FD:G6 :?E6CG:6H] “%92E :D H9J x 42??@E C6>2:? D:=6?E H96? DH@C? 277:52G:ED 2?5 :?G6DE:82E:G6 5@4F>6?ED C2:D6 D6C:@FD BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96 :?E68C:EJ @7 @FC 6=64E:@?D 2?5 E96 4@?5F4E @7 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 277:52G:ED 2==686 7C2F5 :? EH@ 6=64E:@?D :? +2A2E2 r@F?EJ[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 |2C49 a_ae s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2CJ C246 7@C 4@F?EJ ;F586] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(96? >F=E:A=6 277:52G:ED 2AA62C E@ C2:D6 2==682E:@?D :?G@=G:?8 G@E6 92CG6DE:?8[ 3C:36CJ[ 23FD6 @7 @77:4:2= 42A24:EJ[ 4@>A6?D2E65 G@E6C 2DD:DE2?46[ A@=:E:42= 4@@C5:?2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 A@DD:3=6 >:DFD6 @7 AF3=:4 2FE9@C:EJ[ E96 A6@A=6 56D6CG6 E@ <?@H E92E E9@D6 2==682E:@?D 2C6 36:?8 E2<6? D6C:@FD=J 2?5 :?56A6?56?E=J :?G6DE:82E65[” s6= q@DBF6 D2:5] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%@ DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD[ 96 D2:5i “!=62D6 5@?’E :8?@C6 +2A2E2 r@F?EJ] +2A2E2 r@F?EJ ?665D 2? :?56A6?56?E 6I2>:?2E:@? @7 E96D6 2==682E:@?D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$E2E6 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 =6256CD 92G6 :DDF65 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=60d7g46725\34a_\c4c`\gf45\244ae26hhdf2]9E>=Qm:?E6C:> 492C86Dk^2mk^DEC@?8m 7@C D6=64E 4@>>:EE66D[ :?4=F5:?8 6=64E:@? 7C2F5 :DDF6D] q:A2CE:D2? =68:D=2E:G6 86?6C2= :?G6DE:82E:?8 4@>>:EE66D 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J 366? 7@C>65 E@ 9@=5 962C:?8D @? DA64:7:4 7C2F5 C6=2E65 :DDF6D] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp A2EE6C? @7 G@E6C 7C2F5 6I:DED :? 3@C56C 2?5 25;246?E 4@F?E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 :? sFG2=[ y:> w@88 2?5 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=60df4g25fa\d42c\``62\hd_c\d37b5d`6c4f7]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm$E2CC 4@F?E:6Dk^2mk^DEC@?8m[ w:52=8@ r@F?EJ[ pE2D4@D2[ q6I2C 2?5 uC:@ 4@F?E:6D[ AC6G:@FD=J 255C6DD65 3J E96 =68:D=2EFC6 2?5 ~pv[ %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=60`622747_\e_a_\``67\3_73\db2``5__6aba]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm kDEC@?8mC6A@CE65k^DEC@?8mk^2mkDEC@?8mk2 DEJ=6lQ7@?E\D:K6i `aAIjQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=60`622747_\e_a_\``67\3_73\db2``5__6aba]9E>=Qm]k^2mk^DEC@?8m k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm~?6 AC6G:@FD=J kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^:DDF6D^6=64E:@?D^2CE:4=60b743cdh2\7hh2\``65\gfg_\67d6adbaee3h]9E>=Qm6?24E65 C67@C>k^2mk^DEC@?8m C6BF:C6D $~$ 2F5:ED @7 4@F?EJ 6=64E:@? AC@46DD6D] p C646?E $~$ 2F5:E @7 '2= '6C56 r@F?EJ kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D@D]DE2E6]EI]FD^6=64E:@?D^725^7@C>D^G2=\G6C56\4@F?EJ\2F5:E\C6A@CE]A57Qm:56?E:7:65k^2mk^DEC@?8m ?F>6C@FD :DDF6D[ :?4=F5:?8 G@E6C C68:DEC2C DE277 ?@E 36:?8 23=6 E@ “2CE:4F=2E6 2?J AC@46DD6D E@ G2=:52E6 E96 4@F?EJ G@E6C C68:DEC2E:@? =:DE 7@C 244FC24J[” G@E6C C64@C5D ?@E 36:?8 FA52E65[ 2>@?8 @E96CD 4C62E:?8 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C 7C2F5] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“s@?’E 5:D>:DD E96D6 4@?46C?D 3642FD6 H6’C6 2 D>2== 4@F?EJ @? E96 3@C56C[” s6= q@DBF6 4@?E:?F65] “s@?’E =6E @C5:?2CJ 4:E:K6?D 36=:6G6 E92E ;FDE:46 @?=J 4@>6D H96? J@F 92G6 >@?6J[ :?7=F6?46[ @C E96 C:89E =2DE ?2>6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“+2A2E2 r@F?EJ :D >256 FA @7 92C5H@C<:?8 A6@A=6 H9@ 56D6CG6 36EE6C] %96J 56D6CG6 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D H9@ F?56CDE2?5 E92E AF3=:4 @77:46 :D 2 AF3=:4 ECFDE] %96J 56D6CG6 6=64E:@?D H96C6 6G6CJ =682= G@E6 :D AC@E64E65]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms6>@4C2E |2CE92 |@C2=2D 2=D@ 2D<65 E96 pv E@ :?G6DE:82E6 2==6865 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=6023b`_4ed\bdbd\chb_\g4fe\6_fa64`g`bfd]9E>=Qm2DD:DE65 G@E6C 7C2F5k^2mk^DEC@?8m 2?5 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^E6I2D^2CE:4=604d`fee`b\2b6`\c44b\35ha\d`gh4h34bc6f]9E>=QmG@E6C 92CG6DE:?8 7C2F5k^2mk^DEC@?8m :? 96C |2C49 a_ae s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@?] |@C2=6D H2D?’E 23=6 E@ AC6D6?E 6G:56?46 3642FD6 E96 42D6 H2D 5:D>:DD65 5F6 E@ 2 DE2EFE@CJ 5625=:?6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$96 2?5 s6= q@DBF6 2C6 2=D@ 42==:?8 @? E96 s~y E@ :?G6DE:82E6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x 7@F89E 7@C D@>6E9:?8 E92E D9@F=5 36=@?8 E@ 6G6CJ p>6C:42?i 2? 9@?6DE 6=64E:@? 2?5 2 72:C 52J :? 4@FCE[” |@C2=6D E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 :? 2? 6I4=FD:G6 :?E6CG:6H] “x 2> ?@E 2D<:?8 #6AF3=:42?D E@ E2<6 >J H@C5 7@C :E] x 2> 2D<:?8 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A 2?5 E96 s~y E@ :?G6DE:82E6 E96 6G:56?46] x7 E96D6 2==682E:@?D 2C6 F?7@F?565[ =6E 2? :?56A6?56?E :?G6DE:82E:@? 6DE23=:D9 E92E] x7 E96J 2C6 DF3DE2?E:2E65[ E96? E9@D6 C6DA@?D:3=6 >FDE 36 96=5 244@F?E23=6]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x 2> 2 s6>@4C2E 2D<:?8 2 #6AF3=:42? AC6D:56?E 7@C 96=A 3642FD6 x C67FD6 E@ 36=:6G6 E92E ;FDE:46 92D 2 A2CEJ] |J G@E6 :D ?@E DFAA@D65 E@ 36 3@F89E[ 92CG6DE65[ >2?:AF=2E65[ @C D:=6?465[ 2?5 ?6:E96C :D >J C:89E E@ 92G6 E96 ECFE9 962C5 :? 4@FCE[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“|J 962CE 3C62<D 7@C 2 4@>>F?:EJ E92E 766=D F?962C5 2?5 7@C8@EE6?[” s6= q@DBF6 D2:5] “qFE x DE:== 36=:6G6 :? p>6C:42] x DE:== 36=:6G6 :? %6I2D] x DE:== 36=:6G6 :? E96 32586] p?5 x DE:== 36=:6G6 E92E H96? 8@@5 A6@A=6 DE2?5 E@86E96C 2?5 56>2?5 E96 ECFE9[ 6G6?EF2==J E96 ECFE9 92D ?@H96C6 =67E E@ 9:56]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“+2A2E2 r@F?EJ ?665D 96=A] !=62D6 5@?’E :8?@C6 +2A2E2 r@F?EJ]”k^Am
