HOUSTON – During Tuesday’s news conference, District Attorney Kim Ogg not only outlined the exact charges against Barbie Robinson, former executive director of Harris County Public Health who was fired in August, but also addressed criticism from county leaders such as County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
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After news broke that Robinson was charged with felony misuse of official information, Hidalgo called out Ogg in a statement.
Hidalgo rebutted the allegations against Robinson, stating the “attack” on Robinson was the same her former staff members were accused of by Ogg.
Hidalgo released the following statement:
“Kim Ogg’s attack on Barbie Robinson is the same thing my former staff members were falsely accused of by her. Nothing to show for it 3 years later, because, as we’ve said, they did absolutely nothing wrong and her accusations are rife with falsehoods. She’s been voted out, but Kim Ogg continues her pattern of weaponizing her office against those who disagree with her, like Director Robinson, who led a successful program DA Ogg did not like. Only the prosecution (not the defense) presents to Harris County Grand Juries, so it is easy for her to obtain these false indictments.”
Ogg responded in Tuesday’s news conference, saying opinions of politically elected individuals are irrelevant to the criminal process. She stated that her office’s cases are based on evidence rather than opinions. She clarified that her office used both the grand jury process for evidence collection and direct filing for the charges against Robinson, per legal procedure.
“We’re not in high school, and our cases aren’t based on opinions,” Ogg said. “They are based on evidence. The evidence reflects actions taken by government officials which violate the law. And so, the opinions of politically elected individuals are irrelevant to the criminal process.”