Taral Patel, a Democrat candidate for Fort Bend Precinct 3 Commissioner in Texas, has been arrested and charged with Online Impersonation and Misrepresentation of Identity. According to his arrest record, the investigation began in October 2023 after authorities were requested to look into who was behind allegedly vitriolic comments left on Patel’s social media accounts.
In one particular Facebook post, Patel shared some of the alleged hateful comments to his supporters, claiming it represented a “deep and misguided fear” within the Republican Party. Patel said he was open to criticism of his policy positions, but drew a line when his Republican opponents’ supporters allegedly hurled racist, anti-immigrant, or discriminatory insults at him and his family.
Fort Bend County Republican Party Chairman Bobby Eberle reacted to the allegations, calling them “deeply concerning.” He stated, “Whether Republican or Democrat, such tactics should be unequivocally condemned by all who value integrity and accountability in politics. This is not a partisan issue, and the good people of Fort Bend County should be able to trust that when allegations are made, they are sincere.”
