A Democrat running for local office in Texas, Taral Patel, was arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly creating social media accounts to post fake racist attacks against himself, according to local reports.
Patel, the Democratic nominee for Fort Bend County Precinct 3 commissioner, had previously claimed in a Facebook post in September 2023 that supporters of his Republican opponent hurled racist, anti-immigrant, and Hinduphobic insults at him. He attached screenshots of these alleged statements made by county residents.
However, an investigation by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office and the Texas Rangers traced the racist messages back to Patel himself, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. One of the flagged comments 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 had garnered endorsements from high-profile Democrats, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Texas Representative Joaquin Castro. According to his campaign website, Patel had been appointed by President Joe Biden to serve in the Office of White House Liaison and claimed to be a key member of the White House Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Committee.
The investigation into the fake accounts began when Patel’s Republican opponent, Commissioner Andy Meyers, became suspicious of the motivations behind the alleged racist attacks.
Recognizing one of the accounts as having previously attacked him, Meyers hired a private investigator. When the investigator came up empty, Meyers requested the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office to investigate further.
The district attorney’s office issued subpoenas to Facebook and Google, obtaining account data that matched Patel’s address, phone number, Texas driver’s license number, and bank card number, according to KTRK-TV.
Patel had allegedly used a picture of a real man living in Fort Bend County for one of the fake accounts without permission. The man confirmed to the district attorney’s office that Patel did not have permission to use his likeness.
On Wednesday, Texas Rangers arrested Patel for online impersonation, a third-degree felony, and misrepresentation of identity, a misdemeanor. His total bond was set at $22,250, which he paid the following morning. Patel’s campaign did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
