Fort Bend County Judge K.P. George is asking a court to dismiss his criminal case or remove District Attorney Brian Middleton from it. George’s lawyers filed motions alleging misconduct by Middleton, including deleted evidence, off-the-record communications, and political motives. They say the filings contain screenshots and recordings that show Middleton approving fake social media posts and using derogatory language about George, and they claim three minutes are missing from a recorded interview with witness Taral Patel. The motions also mention a phone call in which Middleton allegedly said he “liked” one of Patel’s fabricated posts and request the appointment of a special prosecutor, as per ABC13.
George’s lawyers say prosecutors used disappearing-message apps like Signal and WhatsApp and did not preserve the communications, which they argue affects his defense. They also claim the prosecution escalated after George criticized Middleton and changed political parties, and the filings include screenshots the defense says show Middleton’s animus toward the judge. The Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office responded that George underreported his campaign balance and misused over $45,000 in campaign funds, calling it, "This is yet another desperate attempt," and said the new misconduct claims do not change the evidence or trial schedule, as reported by Houston Chronicle,
At the center of the clash is testimony from former George staffer Taral Patel, who accepted a plea deal in April after admitting he created fake Facebook posts meant to sway elections. Click2Houston detailed Patel's plea agreement and the lengthy proffer interview that generated much of the discovery in the case, and coverage of Patel's fake-identity social media campaign summarized how his admitted conduct led to the identity-related counts, as per Hoodline. George's attorneys argue that Patel's statements have been cherry-picked by prosecutors and that the missing audio from the proffer interview unfairly prejudices the defense.
What’s next in court
George's motions ask the 458th District Court either to throw out the indictments or to remove Middleton from the case and appoint a prosecutor from outside Fort Bend County if a judge finds misconduct. The filings also seek an order preserving and producing any remaining encrypted messages, plus a log describing communications that no longer exist.
A status hearing is set for mid-December, according to ABC13. The matter will be heard in the 458th District Courtroom at the Fort Bend County Justice Center (Fort Bend County). Procedures for removing or suspending county officers accused of official misconduct are spelled out in the Texas Local Government Code, per Statutes.
Political stakes
The legal filings deepen a very public feud that has already shaken up local politics. Earlier this year, George announced that he was leaving the Democratic Party for the Republican Party, a move his attorneys say put an even bigger target on his back. Earlier coverage of George's party switch and the related social media hoax from Hoodline shows how tightly the courtroom battle is intertwined with Fort Bend’s political dynamics. With both the elected county judge and the district attorney under intense public scrutiny, upcoming rulings could ripple through the county’s political calendar heading into 2026.
For now, the case is playing out through filings rather than in front of a jury. George’s team says the new messages and the missing part of Patel’s interview could help his defense, while prosecutors say campaign finance records and witness statements still support the charges. A hearing in mid-December will give the judge a first chance to review the misconduct claims and decide whether to issue sanctions, remove the district attorney’s office, or dismiss the case. Until then, the dispute over evidence and the political backdrop will continue to draw attention in Fort Bend County.
