McKinney GOP Rep. Frederick Frazier's career as a Dallas police officer is approaching a close as he submitted his intent to retire amidst an ongoing investigation, one day ahead of his court appearance, where he was expected to plead no contest to charges of attempt to impersonate a public servant. Dallas police spokeswoman Kristin Lowman confirmed that Frazier is still an active member of the force until his retirement is sanctioned by his superiors, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Frazier, who also faced a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, ended up pleading guilty, which carries a fine of $500, while the two Class A misdemeanors could set him back up to $4,000 each. His attorney has yet to make a public statement regarding the plea. Frazier's decision to retire was disclosed shortly after he was expected in court Tuesday, wherein he accepted one year of deferred adjudication probation as part of a plea agreement, as per The Texas Tribune.
In the legal wake of Frazier's actions, his erstwhile primary opponent, Paul Chabot, felt vindication at his claims being acknowledged. "It’s been nearly two years since Mr. Frazier was first investigated for multiple crimes targeting my campaign," Chabot said. He went on to compare the plea agreement to a "George Santos moment for Texas," referencing the scandal of the former New York congressman, per The Texas Tribune.
The incident that led to these charges involved allegations that Frazier impersonated a city code enforcement officer to have Chabot’s campaign signs removed, an accusation that emerged amidst an intensely contested runoff. Despite the legal issues, Frazier had notched an electoral victory, supported by none other than former President Trump. Yet, the mantle of an elected official is now precariously worn by Frazier as he contends with the fallout from his actions. Both of his primary challengers, backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, have called for his resignation in light of the plea deal.
While the Texas House impeachment proceedings against Paxton and the Senate's subsequent acquittal weave a tangential backdrop, Frazier's political and professional future hangs in balance. Governor Greg Abbott has expressed his endorsement of Frazier for reelection, aligning with education savings accounts, one of his prime political agendas for 2023, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
