Photo: Valeriy/FotoliaHouston Judge, Indicted for Wire Fraud, Gets Suspended Without Pay
An order of suspension noted that the judicial conduct commission reviewed a copy of 164th District Judge Alexandra Smoots-Thomas' indictment, and concluded that because she's charged with seven counts of wire fraud, she should be suspended without pay from the district court.
November 13, 2019 at 01:44 PM
2 minute read
The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct on Tuesday suspended from the bench the Houston judge who has pleaded not guilty in a case that alleged she misused her campaign finance account for personal expenses.
An order of suspension noted that the judicial conduct commission reviewed a copy of 164th District Judge Alexandra Smoots-Thomas' indictment and concluded that because she's charged with seven counts of wire fraud, she should be suspended without pay from the district court.
The judge's suspension will remain in effect until further orders of the commission.
Smoots-Thomas' Oct. 30 criminal indictment, unsealed Nov. 8 when she surrendered to federal authorities, alleged that she embezzled more than $26,000 in campaign contributions to pay for her mortgage, her children's private school tuition, personal travel expenses, a Prada handbag and jewelry. The government claimed she concealed her crime by filing false campaign finance reports and hiding her spending from her campaign treasurer.
The judge's criminal-defense attorney, Kent Schaffer, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment about Smoots-Thomas' suspension.
Previously, Schaffer, partner in Schaffer Carter & Associates in Houston, told Texas Lawyer that Smoots-Thomas' prosecution is political and that she will beat the charges. He claimed that the FBI found that an anonymous bribery complaint against her was unfounded but then notified her about the alleged misuse of campaign funds. The FBI asked Smoots-Thomas to wear a wire to help the agency investigate other Houston judges, but she refused, Schaffer said.
|Read the order of suspension:
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