Hidalgo on staffer indictments: 'I'm very confident that, when the facts are known, my team will be cleared'

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo addressed the felony indictments on Tuesday (April 12) against three of her senior staff members, according to a report from Houston CBS affiliate KHOU. The county judge, a Democrat, said she still stands with the staffers, who are each accused of misuse of official information and tampering with records, the station reported. 

The indictments were issued for Alex Triantaphyllis, Hidalgo's chief of staff; Aaron Dunn, an ex-senior advisor; and Wallis Nader, the county judge's deputy policy director. KHOU reported that the three appeared in court on Tuesday morning.

Hidalgo said on Twitter that the accusations were "unfair," insinuating that they're political motivated, KHOU reported.

"I do not, and will not, cave to bullying or political dirty tricks," she tweeted. "I have not seen anything to suggest my staff did anything but work tirelessly for the people of Harris County."

Hidalgo added that she's retaining the three, according to the station.

According to the county judge, the investigation is moving with what she asserts is "a serious misunderstanding of the facts," Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported.

"I'm very confident that, when the facts are known, my team will be cleared," Hidalgo said in a statement obtained by the station.

Hidalgo is running for a second term in the November elections.

The indictments are part of a 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, the Houston Daily reported. 

The Texas Rangers executed search warrants last month that allege Triantaphyllis, Dunn and Nader were the county employees who told Elevate Strategies, the firm that was awarded the contract, and its owner Felicity Pereyra, about the agreement.