Texas Rangers execute search warrants at Hidalgo's office

Texas Rangers have executed search warrants at the Harris County Administration Building in Downtown Houston. 

State authorities were joined by other law enforcement agencies this morning (March 11) in conducting a search of offices belonging to two members of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's staff, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

An unidentified source told the station that the search is supposedly part of an investigation into to a now-defunct $11 million vaccine outreach contract that became a point of controversy last year.

Hidalgo, a Democrat, cancelled the contract, which the Harris County Commissioners Court originally awarded to a company called Elevated Strategies to perform "targeted vaccine community outreach."

Hidalgo said she axed the agreement because it was too politicized, the Houston Daily reported.

Harris County Commissioners R. Jack Cagle and Tom Ramsey, the lone two Republican members of the Harris County Commissioners Court, were among its vocal opponents.

A Harris County District Attorney's Office spokesperson confirmed the execution of the warrants but didn't elaborate further, KHOU reported.

"A judge signed search warrants, which are legal authorization to search for and seize potential evidence of a crime," HCDAO spokesperson Dane Schiller said, according to the station. "Out of fairness for all parties involved, we have no additional comment at this time.”

Hidalgo's office wasn't the only place that received a visit by the Texas Rangers, who were seen walking out of the downtown building with documents and electronics.

Agents with the state law enforcement agency have served search warrants at other unspecified locations in Harris County, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported.

According to the station, while the contract is cancelled, the county still paid nearly $1.4 million for it during its final days.