A Democrat running for local office in Texas has been arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly creating social media accounts to post false racist attacks against himself, local media reported.
Talal Patel, Democratic candidate for Fort Bend County District 3 Commissioner, will run in September 2023. post “The Republican opposition will decide,” he claimed on his Facebook account.[d] “Hurling #racist, #anti-immigrant, #Hinduphobic or other offensive insults,” Patel wrote, attaching screenshots showing bigoted comments made by county residents. Following an investigation by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Rangers, the racist messages were ultimately traced back to Patel, the Houston Chronicle reported. report.
“Our country does not need any more desert black subhumans stinking of curry and filth,” one comment Patel flagged read. “If I see you with that dot on your head I’ll wipe it off myself,” another said. (Related article: Former school employee arrested for allegedly making fake recordings of racist abuse to frame principal)
Patel’s campaign has garnered support from prominent Democrats, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro. according to His campaign website states that President Joe Biden Appointed Patel served in the White House Liaison Office and, during that time, was a “key member” of the White House Committee on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, the letter said.
Ms Patel’s opponent, Republican Commissioner Andy Myers, initially suspected foul play when Ms Patel posted allegations of racist attacks. according to According to Houston Public Media, Myers recognized that one of the accounts had attacked him before, became suspicious of its motive, and hired a private investigator to find out who was behind it.
After the private investigators didn’t find enough information, Myers asked the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the accounts that posted the messages, Houston Public Media reported. The district attorney’s office issued subpoenas to Facebook and Google to obtain account data that matched Patel’s address, phone number, Texas driver’s license number, and bank card number. according to To ABC 13.
According to Houston Public Media, Patel is accused of using a photo of a real Fort Bend County man for the fake account, who told the district attorney’s office that he did not have permission for Patel to use his likeness.
The Texas Rangers arrested Patel on Wednesday on suspicion of online impersonation, a third-degree felony, and identity theft, a misdemeanor, ABC 13 reported. Patel’s bail, set at a total of $22,250, was posted Thursday morning.
Patel’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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