Attorneys for 2 indicted staffers from Judge Hidalgo’s office claim they’re innocent after court appearances

HOUSTON — Three indicted senior staffers from Harris County Choose Lina Hidalgo’s workplace made their first court docket appearances Tuesday morning. 

Alex Triantaphyllis, Wallis Nader and Aaron Dunn have been indicted Monday following an investigation into an $11 million COVID vaccine outreach contract.

All three face felony prices of misuse of official data and tampering with a authorities file.

Triantaphyllis is presently Hidalgo’s chief of workers. Nader presently serves as coverage director and Dunn is a former staffer. 

“After listening to the prosecutor’s rendering of possible trigger, I am actually, actually curious to see how on the earth they will show this case,” legal professional stated. “I characterize an harmless man, and we sit up for preventing it.” Dunn’s legal professional stated after the listening to.

“There was no wrongdoing right here. We’re glad to be in a good and goal discussion board, lastly,” Triantaphyllis’ legal professional stated.

KHOU 11 Information reached out a number of instances to Choose Hidalgo’s workplace, however didn’t hear again.

The Texas Rangers and Harris County District Legal professional’s Workplace carried out the investigation.

“Prosecutors offered the proof to a Harris County grand jury, which decided there was adequate proof for felony prices. We’ll observe the proof wherever it leads and apply the regulation equally to all; our work continues,” Dane Schiller, spokesman for the Harris County District Legal professional’s Workplace, stated in an announcement Tuesday. 

As 11 Information Investigates reported in March, the investigation facilities round an $11 million COVID vaccine outreach contract that was awarded to Elevate Methods in June 2021.

At difficulty is whether or not Hidalgo staffers gave Elevate Methods LLC and its proprietor Felicity Pereyra insider details about the challenge weeks earlier than a request for proposals was open to the general public. 

Staffers have been stated to even have labored to make sure one other firm didn’t win the contract, in accordance with a search warrant.

4 corporations finally utilized for the challenge after the request for proposal grew to become public in February.

The contract was awarded to Elevate Methods in June 2021 however was later terminated in September 2021 because of the firm’s inexperience with public well being outreach and alleged ties to native Democratic occasion officers.

The investigation into the staffers’ involvement within the contract heated up on March 11 when the Texas Rangers and the Harris County District Legal professional’s Workplace served search warrants to the Harris County Administration Constructing.

WATCH: Extra tales about vaccine contract investigation from 11 Investigates

Computer systems and telephones of no less than two of her workers members have been seized on the time, in accordance with sources.

Most just lately, the Texas Rangers have seemed into the Google accounts of six senior workers members of the Hidalgo’s workplace, in addition to the choose herself. Investigators seized a complete of 14 Google information regarding the vaccine outreach contract.

KHOU authorized analyst Carmen Roe says it seems this investigation is much from over.

“If I am in her [Judge Hidalgo]’s workplace I am shaking in my boots,” stated Roe. “This isn’t going to finish effectively for anybody in that workplace who had something to do with these contracts.”

Members of the Harris County Commissioners Court docket additionally criticized Hidalgo for failing to reply.

“When you might have three workers members indicted in a single day it’s important to reply to that,” stated Pct. 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey. 

Pct. 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle says the indictments are a tragic day in Harris County. 

“We do not know if there is a hearth but as a result of there isn’t any conviction but, however there is definitely smoke with the indictments,” Cagle stated.

Alex Triantaphyllis’ legal professional:

“We sit up for the upcoming court docket proceedings, which can shine a light-weight on the truth that there was no wrongdoing right here. These prices towards my shopper are unsupported by a full and goal assessment of the information and the voluminous proof on this case.”

“Aaron Dunn is harmless. He has been an trustworthy and devoted public servant. He did not share any data, he did not commit any crime, and finally he might be vindicated.”

There was no response but from Wallis Nader or her legal professional and neither commented after Tuesday’s court docket look. 

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