Texas authorities are currently probing allegations of fraud in connection with a petition to remove the mayor from office in a Texas city.
The recall petition against Texas City Mayor Dedrick Johnson is currently under police investigation for suspected fraud. The Texas City Police Department (TCPD) has confirmed that at least one deceased person's name, address, and signature were found among the submitted signatures.
Initially, approximately 1,600 signatures were collected, but only 989 were validated. The shortfall of the required 1,010 signatures to trigger a recall election is due to unregistered voters, incomplete information, and suspected forgery. As a result, the TCPD has opened a criminal investigation in collaboration with the Galveston County District Attorney's Office.
The affidavit filed by resident Joshua McMeekin also criticizes Mayor Johnson's handling of public records, police staffing, and what it describes as political interference in economic development. However, no other parties have made public statements regarding the investigation.
The TCPD is dedicated to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and uphold all applicable laws. The police have provided a contact number (409-643-5838) for anyone with more information or concerns related to the petition fraud.
It's worth noting that the TCPD is not involved in the recall process but is committed to investigating allegations of fraud in the petition. As of Wednesday, no charges or arrests have been made in connection with the situation.
The recall effort against Mayor Johnson has been based on allegations of his violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act, as well as criticisms of his handling of police staffing and economic development interference. However, the mayor has denied wrongdoing and dismissed the recall call as baseless.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time. Residents are encouraged to report any additional information or concerns related to the petition fraud to the TCPD.
- The police investigation in Texas City, regarding suspected fraud in the recall petition against Mayor Dedrick Johnson, has expanded to include allegations of potential political interference in economic development, as stated in an affidavit filed by resident Joshua McMeekin.
- In pursuit of maintaining public safety and upholding the law, the Texas City Police Department (TCPD) has collaborated with the Galveston County District Attorney's Office to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the suspected fraud in the petition for Mayor Johnson's recall.
- The integrity of the electoral process is paramount, and in light of the ongoing investigation into fraud allegations in the recall petition signatures, residents are urged to come forward with any relevant information or concerns, which can be reported to the Texas City Police Department at 409-643-5838.
