Texas Dem hopeful and ex-Biden appointee arrested for allegedly posting fake racist social comments about himself
A White House appointee of former President Biden and now a Democrat running for county commissioner in Texas is accused of creating fake social media accounts and posting false racist comments about himself.
Talal Patel, 30, a candidate for county commissioner in Fort Bend County’s 3rd District outside Houston, was arrested last week on suspicion of online impersonation as a result of an investigation initiated by his opponent, incumbent Andy Myers.
Texas county commissioner candidate Talal Patel, 30, has been arrested and charged with creating a fake Facebook profile and sending himself racist messages. Facebook/Talal Patel
The Fort Bend District Attorney’s Office began investigating Patel in October, shortly after she published a lengthy Facebook post in September that portrayed her and her family as victims of a vicious race-based smear campaign by supporters of her opposing candidate.
The post included a collage of about a dozen racist messages he claimed to have received during his candidacy, including ones calling him vulgar terms like “monkey” and “subhuman” and attacking his Hindu beliefs.
Patel allegedly posted a collage of the racist abuse she received during her candidacy. Facebook/Talal Patel
Patel previously served in the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and was appointed by President Biden to serve on the White House Liaison Office and the White House Commission on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Affairs, according to her campaign website.
“These hateful images (a small sample attached here) were born out of deep and false fears stoked by people like former President Donald Trump and today’s Republican extremists that immigrants are trying to ‘take our jobs’ and hurt our communities,” Patel wrote.
Myers became suspicious when he recognized one of the names in the collage, “Antonio Scallywag,” as someone who had previously attacked him online. ABC13 He called for an investigation into Patel’s claims.
Investigators sent subpoenas to Facebook and Google to obtain account information for user profiles that could be traced back to Patel, including his address, phone number and bank card numbers.
Texas Rangers arrested Patel on Wednesday on suspicion of third-degree online impersonation, a felony, and a Class A misdemeanor count of identity fraud.
He was held briefly in the Fort Bend County Jail and then posted bail Thursday morning, $20,000 on the felony charge and $2,500 on the misdemeanor charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 22.
Patel’s campaign website lists several of her past positions, including chief of staff for Fort Bend County. She also says she has worked in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, as deputy financial director for the governor and as a legislative staffer in the Texas House of Representatives.
Patel has been appointed by Biden to serve as a White House liaison, where she will work on issues related to housing, urban development and disaster recovery and resilience, according to her campaign website.
Patel was also a “leading member” of WHAANHPIC, according to its website.
Patel’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment Sunday afternoon.
Texas Dem hopeful and ex-Biden appointee arrested for allegedly posting fake racist social comments about himself
A White House appointee of former President Biden and now a Democrat running for county commissioner in Texas is accused of creating fake social media accounts and posting false racist comments about himself.
Talal Patel, 30, a candidate for county commissioner in Fort Bend County’s 3rd District outside Houston, was arrested last week on suspicion of online impersonation as a result of an investigation initiated by his opponent, incumbent Andy Myers.
The Fort Bend District Attorney’s Office began investigating Patel in October, shortly after she published a lengthy Facebook post in September that portrayed her and her family as victims of a vicious race-based smear campaign by supporters of her opposing candidate.
The post included a collage of about a dozen racist messages he claimed to have received during his candidacy, including ones calling him vulgar terms like “monkey” and “subhuman” and attacking his Hindu beliefs.
Patel previously served in the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and was appointed by President Biden to serve on the White House Liaison Office and the White House Commission on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Affairs, according to her campaign website.
“These hateful images (a small sample attached here) were born out of deep and false fears stoked by people like former President Donald Trump and today’s Republican extremists that immigrants are trying to ‘take our jobs’ and hurt our communities,” Patel wrote.
Myers became suspicious when he recognized one of the names in the collage, “Antonio Scallywag,” as someone who had previously attacked him online. ABC13 He called for an investigation into Patel’s claims.
Investigators sent subpoenas to Facebook and Google to obtain account information for user profiles that could be traced back to Patel, including his address, phone number and bank card numbers.
Texas Rangers arrested Patel on Wednesday on suspicion of third-degree online impersonation, a felony, and a Class A misdemeanor count of identity fraud.
He was held briefly in the Fort Bend County Jail and then posted bail Thursday morning, $20,000 on the felony charge and $2,500 on the misdemeanor charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 22.
Patel’s campaign website lists several of her past positions, including chief of staff for Fort Bend County. She also says she has worked in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section, as deputy financial director for the governor and as a legislative staffer in the Texas House of Representatives.
Patel has been appointed by Biden to serve as a White House liaison, where she will work on issues related to housing, urban development and disaster recovery and resilience, according to her campaign website.
Patel was also a “leading member” of WHAANHPIC, according to its website.
Patel’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment Sunday afternoon.
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