Fort Bend County Judge and Democrat KP George, accused of money laundering and operating a social media campaign hoax, is doubling down on claims that he’s been targeted by political adversaries. As his legal fight continues, he has engaged new representation: Jared Woodfill, an attorney who used to chair the Harris County GOP.
Woodfill, a former unsuccessful candidate for the Texas House, appeared in a Fort Bend County courtroom on April 22 prepared to defend George on the social media hoax claims. The case was postponed until June 13 because investigators said they need to extract more evidence from a cell phone. Woodfill issued two press releases about his client, lambasting Fort Bend County DA Brian Middleton, but did not respond to emails and calls from the Houston Press to his office on Friday and Monday.
George is accused of a misdemeanor charge of identity misrepresentation, with prosecutors alleging he worked with a staff member to fake racist attacks against his own campaign on social media in an effort to gain favor with the public.
Separate from the social media hoax, George has been charged with money laundering, a third-degree felony. He was arrested April 4 on two counts of laundering between $30,000 and $150,000. He bonded out of county jail and presided over a Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meeting days later. It is unclear when a court hearing will be set on that case.
George’s former staffer, Taral Patel, pleaded guilty April 15 to two counts of misdemeanor misrepresentation of identity by a candidate and was sentenced to probation.
“As a young man who has dedicated his entire life to public service, I must now ask the public for its forgiveness and grace,” Patel wrote in a public apology letter required by the court. “Serving my community has always been my life’s mission, and still remains so. Despite my good intentions, I recognize that poor decisions can overshadow years of hard work, and more importantly, take time, resources, and energy away from causes we all deeply care about such as honoring the Sugar Land 95 and fighting racism and injustice.”
Patel made a failed bid for Precinct 3 county commissioner in November 2024, losing to incumbent Andy Meyers. Prosecutors claim that during that campaign, Patel posted a collage of “racist social media posts” about himself and in support of Meyers. Court documents allege Patel participated in a similar scheme, impersonating real people and posting under fake accounts, during George’s 2022 re-election campaign. While investigating the social media hoax, authorities have said they discovered unusual activity in George’s campaign accounts, leading to the felony charges.
Woodfill has dismissed claims that George was involved in the social media hoax and alleges it’s a vendetta from District Attorney Middleton.
Because Woodfill did not immediately respond to our request for an interview, it’s unclear what the vendetta is all about. The attorney’s press statement suggests the DA is hoping to “take out” George as a political opponent; it’s also been reported that Middleton is mad because his family member was denied a job working for the judge.
“Mr. Patel’s plea agreement, which is a mere slap on the wrist, appears to be the DA’s effort to further manufacture a case against Judge George, cutting backroom deals in exchange for testimony,” Woodfill said in a press release. “Attorney Brian Middleton is using Mr. Patel as a pawn in an effort to take out his political opponent, Judge George. Judge George has never even been found liable by the Texas Ethics Commission, the body responsible for investigating alleged violations of the Texas Election Code.
“This case is about DA Middleton capturing the news headline in an effort to influence an election in his favor,” Woodfill continued. “This weaponization of the district attorney’s office should concern every resident of Fort Bend County and the State of Texas. If a DA can abuse his office in an effort to take out a high-profile political opponent, what chance is there for the everyday citizen when he or she crosses a politically ambitious DA? Judge George will continue to stand against injustice and for all residents of Fort Bend County.”
In a separate release, Woodfill claims Middleton violated the Texas Election Code by failing to include “important information related to campaign contributions and contributors on his campaign finance reports.”
Middleton acknowledged Monday that his office is “prosecuting indictments returned by a Fort Bend County grand jury against KP George that allege his commission of criminal misconduct.”
“For many good reasons, Texas legal ethics rules limit the kinds of public statements a prosecutor and defense attorney can make about a pending criminal case,” Middleton said in an emailed statement. “To that end, the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office has been very careful to do its talking in the courtroom and not on the courthouse steps. Along these lines, in prosecuting a criminal case, it is not my practice to question the integrity of opposing counsel as a trial tactic. I believe a case should stand or fall on its merits.
“Counsel for KP George has seemingly taken a different approach, however, by accusing me of committing crimes in my own election finance reports,” he continued. “Although it appears that counsel’s intent in these attacks is to distract attention from the merits of Mr. George’s pending indictments, I feel compelled as an elected official and public figure to respond to his accusations.”
Middleton explained that last April, while working full-time and attending the police academy at night, he missed a filing deadline by about eight hours. He paid a $500 fine.
“Yes, I have made mistakes, as many candidates do, but not with any criminal intent,” he said.
George was elected as a Democrat in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. Some are questioning whether his ties to Woodfill indicate a plan to switch political parties.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
