Houston prosecutors find no evidence of efforts to sway 2022 elections but charge a county worker

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — An investigation found no evidence of intent to influence 2022 election outcomes in Texas’ largest county, prosecutors announced Tuesday, but they will pursue criminal charges against a county employee who was allegedly working a second job while polls ran out of paper ballots.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg’s review is one of several to scrutinize Houston’s last midterm elections, when problems at polling places prompted Republican candidates to contest defeats in local races and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to sign a law removing the elections administrator in the county of more than 5 million residents.

Ogg, an elected Democrat, said during a news conference that her office and investigators with the Texas Rangers found no evidence that elections employees intentionally tried to sway the results. But she said the investigation found that the failures of one elections employee — whose job was to make sure polling locations had enough paper ballots — resulted in some voters being unable to cast ballots.

That employee, Darryl Blackburn, was not charged with any election-related crimes. Instead, he faces charges related to improperly claiming hours on his timesheets and filing for paid time off while secretly working a more lucrative outside job, including on Election Day as some polling locations ran out of paper ballots.

The most serious of six charges filed against Blackburn, theft by public servant, carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Blackburn's attorney said his client is not guilty and slammed the charges as politically driven.

“This case isn’t about the election — it’s about timesheets," Houston attorney Charles Flood said in a statement. "The Texas Rangers made clear that the evidence shows no intent or attempt to influence the 2022 election, so it seems Ms. Ogg’s only motivation is to try and claim my client as some sort of consolation prize.”

Ogg said the employee’s actions undermined voter confidence.

"It is clearly extremely important to look at these crimes in a nonpartisan way,” Ogg said.

Last year, an audit by the Texas secretary of state's office also found that race outcomes were not affected by the issues in Houston. But the report did fault county administrators for failures, including insufficient training for elections staff.

After the 2022 elections, Republican lawmakers effectively dismantled Harris County's elections office and turned the job back over to the county tax assessor and county clerk, which are both elected offices currently held by Democrats.

Harris County has been at the center of battles over voting rights and access in Texas in recent years. Democrats, who have expanded their victories in the county, have attacked new restrictions and state scrutiny over Houston's elections as politically motivated.

A Texas judge last year denied efforts by losing Republican candidates to overturn election results after the 2022 midterms. But he later ordered a new election in one race that was among the closest. That case remains pending on appeal.

Lathan is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announces corruption charges related to 2022 Election alongside Michael Levine, Chief Assistant District Attorney for Public Corruption, left, First Assistant/Chief of Courts David Mitcham, right, and Ryan Christian, with the Texas Rangers, second right, during a press conference Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Houston. Ogg said that her office will pursue criminal charges against a county employee who was allegedly working a second job while polls ran out of paper ballots. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announces corruption charges related to 2022 Election during a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Houston. Prosecutors will pursue criminal charges against a county employee who was allegedly working a second job while polls ran out of paper ballots. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announces corruption charges related to 2022 Election during a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Houston. Prosecutors say an investigation found no evidence of intent to influence 2022 election outcomes, but Ogg said that her office will pursue criminal charges against a county employee who was allegedly working a second job while polls ran out of paper ballots. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Ryan Christian, with the Texas Rangers, left, stands alongside First Assistant/Chief of Courts David Mitcham, right, as Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, not pictured, announces corruption charges related to 2022 Election during a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Houston. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announces corruption charges related to 2022 Election alongside Michael Levine, Chief Assistant District Attorney for Public Corruption, during a press conference Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Houston. Prosecutors say an investigation found no evidence of intent to influence 2022 election outcomes, but Ogg said that her office will pursue criminal charges against a county employee who was allegedly working a second job while polls ran out of paper ballots. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announces corruption charges related to 2022 Election during a press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Houston. Prosecutors in Texas’ largest county say an investigation found no evidence of intent to influence 2022 election outcomes, but Ogg said that her office will pursue criminal charges against a county employee who was allegedly working a second job while polls ran out of paper ballots. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run homer, drove in four runs ad scored twice to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

De La Cruz, who had three hits, joined Eric Davis and Barry Larkin as the only Reds' players with 25 homers and 65 stolen bases in a season. He stole his 100th career base in his 251st game on Friday night.

Rookie Rhett Lowder (2-2) made his fifth start for Cincinnati and allowed five hits in five innings. He has a 1.40 ERA through five starts, allowing one earned run or fewer in four of them.

De La Cruz doubled and scored on Tyler Stephenson's single to put the Reds ahead 1-0 in the third. Ty France followed with his 13th homer of the season to make the score 3-0.

In the fourth, De La Cruz's three-run homer struck the railing just below the upper-level bar in right field to make the score 6-0.

Pirates rookie Jared jones (6-8) tied season-highs with six earned runs and two homers allowed.

Billy Cook hit a solo homer off Alan Busenitz in the ninth for Pittsburgh's run.

TRAINERS ROOM

Reds: LHP Sam Moll (left shoulder impingement) will not pitch this season. ... C Austin Wynns (right teres major tear) had planned for a rehab assignment this month, but instead will be shut down.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Paul Skenes (10-3, 2.07) has the lowest ERA in the major leagues since debuting on May 11.

Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (9-4, 2.83) will come off the injured list to make his first start since Aug 13.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz hits a three-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz watches his three-run homer with Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal (6) and home plate umpire Charlie Ramos during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz watches his three-run homer with Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)