Dozens of FBI agents were seen Friday afternoon at the residence and office of 93rd State District Judge Rodolfo “Rudy” Delgado. Texas Rangers and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies assisted the FBI as they removed plastic bins from the Democrat’s residence in Edinburg.
Simultaneously, Hidalgo County Courthouse officials blocked access to the second floor where Delgado’s office is located. The courthouse remained closed while FBI agents continued their investigation.
FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee confirmed that one suspect has been taken into custody. Attorney Adolfo “Al” Alvarez, who is representing Delgado, said, “Well I think that’s pretty obvious,” when asked if Delgado was in custody.
Sources speculate that the investigation stems from Delgado’s Edinburg property, with an estimated appraised value worth more than $734,000 according to the Hidalgo County Appraisal District.
93rd District Judge Rudy Delgado
Delgado, who is currently running for 13th Court of Appeals Place 4, was en route to a “Turn Our Counties from Red to Blue” campaign event at the Goliad Brewing Company, hosted by U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville), when he was arrested. The judge was reportedly detained at the checkpoint in Falfurrias.
This isn’t Delgado’s first encounter with the law, in 2002 he was arrested for a DWI charge in Edinburg. Then in 2005 the case was dropped but then he was re-indicted on evading arrest and was later charged with misuse of information. Another candidate within the13th Court of Appeals (Place 2) Judge Nora Longoria, also has a history of run-ins with the law. In July 2014, she was arrested for driving while intoxicated. She refused to take a breathalyzer and failed the sobriety test.
However, her case was dismissed as there was “insufficient evidence to prosecute.”
While Democrats in the RGV are scraping at the bottom for candidates, Republican Jaime Tijerina earned the endorsement of Gov. Greg Abbott and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility for the 13th Court of Appeals Place 4.
“Jaime Tijerina is the voice we need now more than ever…he will serve the law of Texas as dutifully as he has served his country,” said Abbott.
On Monday, the indictment against Delgado will be unsealed and the charges will be released to the public.
