Nabbed Him: Biden Appointee Jailed After Local DA Exposes Sick Plot
A Democratic candidate running for local office in Texas has been arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly creating social media accounts to post fabricated racist attacks against himself, according to local reports.
Taral Patel, the Democratic nominee for Fort Bend County Precinct 3 commissioner, posted on his Facebook account in September 2023, claiming that supporters of his "Republican opponents" had chosen to hurl "#racist, #anti-immigrant, #Hinduphobic, or otherwise disgusting insults," and included screenshots purportedly showing prejudiced remarks made by county residents.
Following an investigation by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office and the Texas Rangers, the racist messages were traced back to Patel, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
One flagged comment read, “We don’t need more sand negroid subhumans who smell like curry and filth in our country.”
Another stated, “If I see you wearing that dot on your head, I’ll wipe it off myself.”
Patel’s campaign has received endorsements from prominent Democrats such as Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Texas Representative Joaquin Castro, according to his campaign website.
The website also mentions that President Joe Biden appointed Patel to the Office of White House Liaison, where he claims to have been "a key member" of the White House Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Committee.
Republican Commissioner Andy Meyers, Patel’s opponent, initially suspected foul play when Patel made his post about the alleged racist attacks, as reported by Houston Public Media.
Meyers recognized one of the accounts as having previously attacked him and, suspicious of its motives, hired a private investigator to uncover the identity behind it.
When the private investigator could not find conclusive evidence, Meyers asked the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office to investigate the accounts posting the messages, Houston Public Media reported.
The district attorney’s office subpoenaed Facebook and Google and obtained account data that matched Patel’s address, phone number, Texas driver’s license number, and bank card number, according to KTRK-TV.
Patel reportedly used the picture of a real Fort Bend County resident for a fake account without the man’s permission, as stated by Houston Public Media.
Texas Rangers arrested Patel on Wednesday for online impersonation, a third-degree felony, and misrepresentation of identity, a misdemeanor, ABC 13 reported. Patel posted a total bond of $22,250 on Thursday morning.