A criminal case stemming from the 2020 George Floyd protests in Austin, Texas, is evolving into a larger controversy. Prominent law enforcement organizations are now calling for the resignation of a district attorney, who is backed by Soros, alleging misconduct and politically motivated actions, including the hiding of important evidence.
The attorney representing Austin Police Officer Chance Brechess has filed a motion after the Travis County District Court dismissed the case against the district attorney, Jose Garza. The dismissal centered on claims that he compromised the officer’s constitutional rights and failed to reveal crucial communications with city officials concerning potential criminal charges against the city and police leadership related to injuries suffered by protesters.
Brechess is facing charges for aggravated assault due to his actions during the protests, which involved the use of department-issued bean bag projectiles intended for crowd control. His legal team contends that the device in question was defective, which exacerbated the injuries sustained by protesters.
According to Breches’ attorney, the city of Austin may bear responsibility for the faulty beanbag rounds and that the city could have “criminal liability” in this situation. This suggests that such concerns should be formally presented in court.
The motion references statements from a former city manager and a former city council member, asserting that they were aware of private meetings where Garza and his team discussed potential charges against Austin.
“Prosecutors are entitled to meet with anyone without it being illegal,” said Doug O’Connell, Brechess’ attorney. “But the issue arises when the district attorney appears to have had enough evidence to potentially indict the city, which would then complicate matters significantly.”
Furthermore, O’Connell argues that the district attorney should have disclosed any exculpatory evidence, as stipulated by the Brady v. Maryland ruling. He contends that Garza’s intentions, whether he had substantial evidence or not, still represent a violation of the law regarding the defendant’s rights.
In the wake of this, powerful police organizations, including the Association of Law Enforcement Alliances of Texas and the Austin Police Retired Officers Association, have voiced their disapproval of Garza’s actions and are urging him to step down.
Garza has faced past criticism for his approach to policing and criminal charges, often perceived as lenient on crime. Comments from various stakeholders indicate a growing frustration with his management, particularly regarding police accountability.
Garza, who received financial backing from George Soros and ran a campaign focused on prosecuting officers, has been involved in indicting over 20 police officers related to the unrest following George Floyd’s death. Although many indictments did not lead to convictions, the criticism towards Garza’s handling of cases continues to multiply.
O’Connell has also filed a motion for a court inquiry to investigate possible criminal behavior by Garza regarding evidence handling in this case.
Additionally, in statements made to local media, Garza’s office responded by emphasizing their commitment to move forward with the case and avoid trying it in the press. They expressed a desire to proceed to trial, which is set to occur in June, reinforcing the belief that any delays would equate to a denial of justice.
