Fort Bend County Judge KP George finds himself in legal and political limbo, one week after a jury found him guilty on money laundering charges. Despite the conviction, George is legally allowed to stay in office until his sentencing, which will be handed up by a judge on June 16. At that time, the judge could order George removed from office, or grant a request by prosecutors to suspend him from office. Until that time, George will continue to oversee Commissioners Court meetings, at which commissioners could take disciplinary action against him but cannot remove him from office.
This situation---a sitting official convicted of a crime while in office---is not as uncommon as it may seem, according to Texas political consultant Bill Miller with HillCo Partners. "Most people who hold office don't want to leave it very easily," says Miller. "Because of this conviction, I don't think he's asked to step down."
"We have an election this fall, and he's not even on the ballot, so people aren't going to press the issue," he continues. "I think he'll continue to serve, he'll continue to appeal, and that's where it will be."
George and his attorneys have not yet announced if they plan to appeal, but Miller believes they are likely to do so since he maintained his innocence throughout the case. As for reelection, that won't be an issue since George lost in the primary earlier this month.
George faces up to ten years in prison, but legal experts believe the judge may spare him jail time since this is not a violent crime and George has no criminal history.
For all of those reasons, Miller believes there is no need to try and remove George from office between now and sentencing. "I say let this deal play out, if he wants to continue to serve and appeal, let him serve," he tells KTRH. "He's not gonna be around (in office) much longer anyway, so you just let it play out."
"Why put yourself in the middle of his mess, is what I would say."