Attorney on Hidalgo senior staffer's indictment: 'He ultimately will be vindicated'

Felony indictments were issued against three senior members of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo's staff on Monday (April 11) as part of the criminal investigation into the $11 million COVID-19 vaccine outreach contract the county awarded and then cancelled last year, according to Houston-based media outlets. 

Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported that Alex Triantaphyllis, Hidalgo's chief of staff; Aaron Dunn, an ex-senior advisor; and Wallis Nader, the county judge's deputy policy director, are each accused of misuse of official information and tampering with records.

The Texas Rangers seized documents and electronics from the Harris County Administration Building and raided other county facilities last month.

According to the state law enforcement agency, the staffers' computers bore indications that the staffers allegedly tipped off a vendor about the job.

Search warrants stated that electronic correspondence involving Elevate Strategies, the firm that was awarded the contract, and its owner Felicity Pereyra, showed the county employees expressed a willingness to hold additional discussions with the former, Houston CBS affiliate KHOU reported.

Marla Poirot, an attorney representing Triantaphyllis, asserted her client's innocence, per KTRK.

"Alex's service to Harris County has always been guided by making the people the top priority," Poirot told the station. "In the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis, Alex has worked tirelessly to ensure that taxpayer resources are utilized as effectively and efficiently as possible."

Dunn's legal counsel, Dane Ball, also responded to the indictments, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported. 

“Aaron Dunn is innocent," Ball told the station. "He has been an honest and dedicated public servant. He didn’t share any information, he didn’t commit any crime and he ultimately will be vindicated." 

Hidalgo, a Democrat, late last month stated that the staffers named in the search warrants wouldn't be terminated.

Neither Hidalgo nor her office has commented on the indictments. 

KTRK reported that an extra warrant issued last week requested Google documents from customer accounts belonging to Hidalgo and her team. 

Responding to the investigation shortly after it commenced, the county judge said that "it’s important to let the process play out and the process will play out.”