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Texas judge accused of misspending $25,000 in campaign funds

Posted at 9:01 PM, Nov 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-08 22:01:08-05

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas judge is facing fraud charges for allegedly spending campaign money on personal expenses.

Prosecutors say Harris County Judge Alexandra Smoots-Thomas misused nearly $25,000 in campaign funds between January 2016 and March 2017. The indictment unsealed Friday shows she spent that money on a home mortgage, private school tuition, jewelry and travel.

The 44-year-old Smoots-Thomas pleaded not guilty Friday after she turned herself in to U.S. Magistrate Peter Bray.

The indictment says Smoots-Thomas concealed the personal expenses from her campaign treasurer at the time.

Attorney Kent Schaffer said Smoots-Thomas didn't defraud anybody. He said federal prosecutors are targeting her because she's a black female Democrat.

Smoots-Thomas presides over the 164th District Court and has jurisdiction over civil cases in Harris County.

A pretrial conference is set for Jan. 6.