Texas prosecutors have dropped charges against a prominent conservative activist in Houston related to allegations he was part of what authorities have called a baseless voter fraud conspiracy theory.

Woodfill’s endorsement by Paxton was decried by some Republicans because of his close ties to Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler, who has been accused multiple times of sexual abuse.

Woodfill’s former client fears that politics played a role in the case, which she said was mishandled and abruptly closed by the Harris County DA’s office.

Woodfill has been endorsed by Attorney General Ken Paxton despite his connection to Paul Pressler, a prominent religious figure accused of rape.

The suit prompted a major newspaper investigation into Southern Baptist sexual abuse and seven other men to come forward with allegations against Paul Pressler, an influential conservative activist and former Texas judge.

If elected next year, Woodfill also plans to run for House speaker. His campaign accuses his 2024 opponent, conservative state Rep. Lacey Hull, of conspiring with incumbent Speaker Dade Phelan to work against conservatives.

Under oath, outspoken anti-gay activist Jared Woodfill said he was told in 2004 that Paul Pressler had sexually abused a minor. But Woodfill did not cut ties with the Southern Baptist leader — and said he had no knowledge of Pressler’s alleged behavior when another young man came forward about alleged sexual misconduct in 2016.

Time is winding down for companies with 100 or more employees to get their workers fully vaccinated or tested weekly, as part of a new federal mandate.

HOUSTON – An attorney and a doctor representing a Houston-based group that paid a former police captain accused of assault had little to say Wednesday about the person being charged. Mark Aguirre, 63, was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the Oct. 19 incident. Attorney Jared Woodfill and Dr. Steven Hotze, of Liberty Center, held a news conference Wednesday to answer questions. Hotze confirmed that Aguirre was paid as a contract investigator to look into allegations of election fraud in Harris County. Hotze described the charge against Aguirre as “bogus” and said he hasn’t spoken to Aguirre since he was charged.

Many voted in this years Texas election. Both sides agree that some Texas voters were disenfranchised, though they disagree over why. It took several minutes of convincing before the poll workers would let her submit a provisional ballot. Everyone needs to go to the polls, go vote — vote, vote, vote, vote, vote — and then I go, and I get treated like that.”The murky world of provisional ballotsProvisional ballots like the one Booth was forced to cast hover in an electoral netherworld. When a provisional vote is accepted, it usually signals that the problem was not the voter’s fault.

Victoria Houptman-Bryan joins demonstrators as they stand across the street from the federal courthouse in Houston, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, before a hearing in federal court involving drive-thru ballots cast in Harris County. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – A panel of federal appeals court judges has rejected an eleventh hour Republican effort to bar Election Day drive-thru voting in Houston. The court hadn't been asked to invalidate votes already cast at drive-thru sites in the Houston area. “Hopefully it's all over now.”Attorney Jared Woodfill, a former Harris County GOP Chairman representing those opposed to drive-thru voting centers, noted that county Clerk Chris Hollins has shut down all but one of the county's 10 drive-thru locations for Election Day. "We have stopped the illegal voting on Election Day because Mr. Hollins has shut down drive-thru voting in all locations but one,” Woodfill said.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – A federal judge on Monday rejected another last-ditch Republican effort to invalidate nearly 127,000 votes in Houston because the ballots were cast at drive-thru polling centers established during the pandemic. Another 20,000 or more voters had been expected to use drive-thru polling locations Tuesday, Hollins said earlier Monday. “I cannot in good faith encourage voters to cast their votes in tents if that puts their votes at risk,” he said. Harris County offered 10 drive-thru locations as an option for its nearly 5 million residents amid worries of spreading the coronavirus. More than 40% of Harris County residents are Latino, and about one in five residents are Black.

HOUSTON – A federal judge issued an order to uphold Harris County drive-thru voting but stated that the tents being used to house most drive-thru voting centers will not qualify as “buildings,” which are required for Election Day polling locations. Instead of 10 drive-thru locations, the Toyota Center will be the only drive-thru voting center available in Harris County on Election Day because of the new order. In order to allow for drive-thru voting on Election Day while ensuring that all votes will be counted, the only drive-thru voting center on Election Day will be at Toyota Center. Woodfill said he would immediately appeal the decision, accusing Harris County officials of using their office to help Democrats win Tuesday. Harris County had originally offered 10 drive-thru locations as an option for its nearly 5 million residents amid worries of spreading the coronavirus.

A Houston federal judge ruled Friday that the Republican Party of Texas may proceed with its in-person convention, a striking last-minute development as party officials have struggled to get a virtual gathering underway. The partys virtual convention was set to begin Thursday, though technical difficulties prompted hourslong delays and, eventually, the postponement of the event until Saturday. The State Republican Executive Committee is being totally irresponsible in continuing to push for an indoor, in-person convention, Turner said. Before Fridays ruling, Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey said the party was still working toward resuming the virtual convention Saturday. Texas GOP will stick with virtual convention, even though federal judge ruled in-person Houston event is an option was first published at https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/17/texas-gop-convention-houston/ by The Texas Tribune.

The entrance to the 2016 Republican Party of Texas convention in Dallas. The 2020 in-person party convention in Houston was canceled due to the coronavirus, spurring legal battles. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneA Houston federal judge ruled Friday that the Republican Party of Texas may proceed with its in-person convention, according to lawyers involved in the litigation, a striking last-minute development as party officials have struggled to get a virtual gathering underway. The partys virtual convention was set to begin Thursday, though technical difficulties prompted hourslong delays and, eventually, the postponement of the event until Saturday. Before Friday's ruling, Texas GOP Chairman James Dickey said the party was still working toward resuming the virtual convention Saturday.

HOUSTON A federal district judge ruled Friday that the Texas Republican Party can host an in-person convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center, according to attorney Jared Woodfill. Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston First canceled the contract with the Texas GOP, citing health concerns amid the coronavirus. After much debate, the Texas GOP moved its convention online Thursday. The Texas GOP is currently discussing whether or not to resume plans for an in-person convention in Houston. Upon receiving a written order from the federal judge, the City of Houston and Houston First will appeal.This is a developing story.

The order will require most Texans to wear a face mask in public settings. Under the executive order that goes into effect Friday afternoon, anyone 10 years or older must wear a face-covering. Local residents shared mixed reactions regarding the latest order to combat the spread of COVID-19. A few months ago, Woodfill sued Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo following her mask order and is already working on the same against the governor. And he’s decided to use the big hand of government to force someone to wear a mask,” said Woodfill.

Adams is among two dozen people and groups suing Governor Greg Abbott, declaring his executive orders unconstitutional. "Let me make something real clear, nobody loves Governor Greg Abbott more than I do," Adams said Friday. “The 1975 disaster declaration act is unconstitutional, we believe, to the extent that it does allow him to suspend laws. The constitution makes very clear that only legislature can suspend laws,” Woodfill said. The 45-year-old law gives broad powers to the Governor of Texas to supersede and suspend laws in emergency situations.

HOUSTON – There was no shortage of opinion or passion as political experts joined Khambrel Marshall on this weeks' Houston Newsmakers. Calhoun's organization works to recruit African Americans into the Republican Party and says this is the year when Blacks will return in big numbers to the Republican fold to defeat President Obama. Jenard Jenkins is the Communications Chair for the Harris County Democratic Party and says the Republican party is "reeling" and is engaging in an "assault on women's rights and reproductive health." Professor Mark Jones is the Chair of the Political Science Department at Rice University. Professor Franklin Jones is Chairman of the Political Science Department at Texas Southern University and Professor Jeremy Bailey is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston, specializing in U.S.