“KP George has by no means supported our platform, ideas or priorities,” the social gathering chairman stated.
RICHMOND, Texas — The Republican Celebration of Texas introduced Friday it doesn’t help Fort Bend County Choose KP George’s try and rebrand himself as a Republican, calling the transfer a calculated effort to keep away from accountability amid authorized troubles.
George made his social gathering swap announcement Wednesday morning throughout a press convention in Sugar Land.
“In the present day, I am making an necessary announcement: I’m formally becoming a member of the Republican Celebration.” He claimed the Democratic Celebration has “embraced a corrupt and radical ideology” that not displays Fort Bend County values.
George, described by the GOP as “a lifelong Democrat who has persistently opposed Republican candidates and values,” made his social gathering swap whereas dealing with two felony counts of cash laundering and a separate misdemeanor cost for misrepresentation of id as a candidate. The Republican Celebration of Texas characterised his timing as suspicious, suggesting the swap is designed to defend him from authorized penalties.
Throughout his Wednesday announcement, George made an explosive allegation, claiming prosecutors supplied to drop the felony prices if he agreed to resign.
“I used to be even supplied [that] the fees in opposition to me would all go away if I resign and go,” George stated. The Fort Bend County District Lawyer’s Workplace instantly denied the declare and rejected assertions that the fees are politically motivated.
George’s authorized troubles continued Friday when an administrative decide denied his attorneys’ request to have the presiding decide in his cash laundering case recused and disqualified. Protection lawyer Terry Yates had argued for a decide from outdoors Fort Bend County to supervise the proceedings.
“This isn’t about lawfare,” the Republican Celebration said in a press launch. “Lawfare refers back to the misuse of the authorized system to focus on political opponents. In KP George’s case, the fees are rooted in documented allegations of unethical and presumably felony habits. This isn’t political prosecution; that is the authorized system functioning because it ought to.”
Regardless of the Republican Celebration’s rejection, George introduced plans to run for re-election as a Republican in 2026. “I do not count on all people goes to return and embrace and… hug me,” George stated Wednesday. “I’m trying ahead to show it to them. I’ll be a greater Republican than anyone within the coming months.”
The social gathering swap has drawn blended reactions from native political leaders. Fort Bend County Democratic Celebration Chairwoman Jennifer Cantu stated George’s “sudden departure from the Democratic Celebration when his marketing campaign of shock and intimidation in opposition to the District Lawyer and our Courts raises some necessary questions.” She famous that the social gathering expects leaders to uphold “Democratic values of honesty, integrity, and accountability.”
In the meantime, Fort Bend County Republican Celebration Chairman Bobby Eberle referred to as the information “gorgeous however shouldn’t be stunning,” noting that Republicans gained 77% of contested countywide races in 2024 and now management the Commissioners Courtroom with a 3-2 majority.
Nonetheless, the state Republican Celebration Chairman Abraham George made the GOP’s place clear in an announcement rejecting the decide’s conversion.
“Whereas we aren’t within the enterprise of telling individuals they can not turn out to be Republicans, we’re additionally not going to face by whereas somebody tries to hijack our Celebration’s good identify to flee the implications of their actions,” Chairman George stated. “KP George has by no means supported our platform, ideas or priorities and his sudden shift—beneath authorized strain—just isn’t credible. The Republican Celebration of Texas could have no half in it.”
The cash laundering prices in opposition to George allege felony exercise occurred between January and April 2019, with prosecutors claiming the quantities concerned had been between $30,000 and $150,000. His protection crew beforehand argued the case needs to be dealt with by a decide from outdoors Fort Bend County to keep away from any look of impropriety, however that request was denied Friday.
The Republican Celebration emphasised it stays dedicated to electing principled conservatives and selling insurance policies rooted in liberty, private duty, and the rule of legislation. The group stated it depends on grassroots leaders and elected officers throughout Texas to keep up its requirements and reject makes an attempt to misuse the platform for private authorized acquire.
Jared Woodfill, former Chairman Harris County Republican Celebration, lawyer for Choose George despatched an announcement Friday that reads:
“It’s disappointing that the RPT Chair doesn’t welcome an elected official who has given the Fort Bend County Commissioners Courtroom a 3-2 Republican majority for the primary time in over a decade. Clearly, the Chairman has not been following Choose George’s votes on redistricting and different budgetary points associated to Fort Bend County. Choose George and Republican county commissioner Andy Meyers just lately voted for redistricting that will have resulted in a Republican majority. Sadly, one Republican voted with Democrats to kill Choose George’s movement. Regardless, Choose George is dedicated to districts being redrawn in a good method. He’ll carry the vote up once more quickly and work for honest districts.
“Clearly, the RPT Chair just isn’t nicely versed within the info of the felony case. George Soros funded DA, Brian Middleton, has abused his workplace in an effort to take out a political opponent. One want solely take a look at how he dealt with his personal marketing campaign violations and examine how he has focused Choose George. If Middleton can weaponized his workplace in an effort to take out Choose George, he can abuse his workplace in an effort to focus on any Republican. As somebody who chaired the most important county Republican Celebration for 12 years, I do know the significance of rising a celebration. If we hope to develop the Republican Celebration, social gathering leaders mustn’t assault those that depart the Democratic Celebration, however as a substitute commend and encourage them. Think about if social gathering management had rejected Ronald Reagan, Rick Perry, or Phil Graham once they selected to modify events. By rejecting those that swap events, social gathering management sends a transparent message to any future Democrat who wish to be part of the Republican Celebration. Luckily, many Republican leaders don’t agree with Chairman George’s evaluation, and Choose George has been warmly embraced by quite a few social gathering leaders and activist. Finally, Choose George requested that individuals decide him by his votes going ahead as a Republican Choose in Fort Bend Celebration.”
The Fort Bend County District Lawyer’s Workplace has beforehand asserted that it’s dedicated to serving the general public and upholding the legislation.
