Houston, TX - Cecilia Castellano, the Democratic candidate for state House District 80, has strongly criticized an ongoing vote harvesting investigation that resulted in the seizure of her phone and the search of homes belonging to a legislative aide and elderly Latino election volunteers. Speaking at a news conference, Castellano vehemently denied any wrongdoing and labeled the investigation as "nonsense."

The search warrants were served last week to several South Texans, prompting outrage from Latino civil rights leaders, state lawmakers, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). According to LULAC, the raids were conducted in a pre-dawn manner, with law enforcement entering the homes of elderly Latino election volunteers, armed and with limited information about the investigation. LULAC leaders condemned the raids as an attempt to intimidate Latino voters and called for federal and state inquiries.

While not explicitly naming her opponent, former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr., Castellano hinted at the endorsement she believes her opponent receives from top Republicans in the state. Urging supporters to remain focused amidst the controversy, Castellano declared her refusal to be silenced despite the challenges she faced.

In response, McLaughlin denied any involvement or knowledge of the politically motivated investigation, stating that he only learned about it through a press release on Saturday. He emphasized that he had not been in contact with the Attorney General's Office and distanced himself from any finger-pointing, maintaining that he has always played by the rules and will continue to do so.

The search warrants obtained by The Texas Tribune shed some light on the allegations being investigated by Attorney General Ken Paxton's office. The warrants revealed that agents were looking into claims of illegal vote harvesting by a prominent political operator in Frio County for various local races, including Castellano's. The allegations stemmed from a recorded conversation between the operator and Manuel Medina, a former chair of the Bexar County Democratic Party and aide to State Rep. Elizabeth "Liz" Campos.

Republicans, aiming to secure enough votes to pass a school voucher bill in the next legislative session, have set their sights on flipping the South Texas seat currently contested by Castellano. In 2022, Republican Governor Greg Abbott carried the district by a 6% margin while incumbent Tracy King ran unopposed.

Both Castellano and Medina have strongly condemned the investigation, characterizing it as a politically-motivated attack. During the news conference, Castellano did not directly address the allegations outlined in the search warrants, while Medina did not speak at all.

As of now, Attorney General Paxton's office has provided limited information about the ongoing investigation and the raids. LULAC officials plan to file formal complaints with the U.S. Justice Department, seeking a federal review, while State Sen. Roland Gutierrez announced plans to request a state inquiry from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, although the likelihood of it being granted is uncertain.

The controversy surrounding the investigation and the raids has sparked a demand for transparency and truth among Texans. In support of independent journalism, the Texas Tribune appeals for contributions to continue delivering fact-based news and information to the community.

Please note that this news article is based on information provided and does not reflect independent verification of facts.

Source: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune