Public statements, news reports

Houston Democratic Candidate Patel Arrested for Staging Racist Attacks Against Himself in Texas

Jun 16, 2024, 05:13 PM

A Democratic candidate in Houston, Texas, has been accused of staging racist attacks against himself in a bid to frame his Republican opponent. The candidate, identified as Patel, allegedly made racist posts about himself under the alias 'Antonio Scalywag' and issued press releases claiming to be the victim of these attacks. Authorities allege that Patel spent months sending a stream of racist and derogatory comments to himself, impersonating a supporter of incumbent Republican Commissioner Andy Meyers. Patel, a former Biden appointee, has been arrested in connection with these allegations. A Fort Bend County investigator compared the incident to a 'Jussie Smollett-style' promotional campaign.