Taral Patel, the Democratic nominee for Fort Bend County Precinct 3 commissioner in Texas, was arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly creating social media accounts to post fake racist attacks against himself, according to reports from local outlets.

The controversy began when Patel made a post to his Facebook account in September 2023, claiming that his "Republican opponents' supporters" had targeted him with racist and xenophobic insults. An investigation conducted by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office and the Texas Rangers later traced the prejudiced messages back to Patel, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

One flagged comment read, "We don’t need more sand negroid subhumans who smell like curry and filth in our country." Another stated, "If I see you wearing that dot on your head, I’ll wipe it off myself."

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Patel's campaign had garnered endorsements from high-profile elected Democrats and touted his appointment by Joe Biden to the White House Liaison Office.

His Republican opponent, Commissioner Andy Meyers, suspected foul play and hired a private investigator. Subsequently, the Fort Bend County District Attorney's office obtained account data that matched Patel’s information, linking him to the fake accounts. Patel was arrested for online impersonation, a third-degree felony, and misrepresentation of identity, a misdemeanor.

Patel's bail was set at $22,250, which he paid the following morning. These developments have raised questions about the authenticity of the claims that formed the narrative of Patel's campaign.

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