Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza failed to show at a recent House Governmental Oversight hearing partially addressing prosecutorial integrity.
The Wednesday committee hearing, chaired by State Rep. Cody Vasut (R–Angleton), was praised by House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock) as a “productive hearing examining local prosecutorial integrity and ensuring the responsible use of taxpayer funds at the local level.”
The committee stated its goal during the hearing was to identify and evaluate the degree to which nongovernmental organizations were involved in local prosecutorial functions, as well as to determine whether legislative measures were needed to ensure prosecutorial determinations were “free from undue influence.”
The focus of the hearing was dominated by Garza’s failure to appear, despite being invited to the hearing to testify. Instead, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Gharakhanian acted as Garza’s “legislative liaison” during the hearing.
Of particular interest during the hearing was The Wren Collective (WC), a self-described “team of former public defenders and policy experts” that is dedicated to “replacing ineffective and often disingenuous approaches to crime and safety with those that support victims, keep people healthy and safe, and help everyone thrive and live with dignity.”
“For too long, those with power have exploited the criminal legal system to take away the rights of marginalized communities, people of color, immigrants, and increasingly, their political opponents,” according to the WC website.
However, some on the committee expressed concern regarding the degree of influence WC had on prosecutorial dealings.
When State Rep. Mitch Little (R–Lewisville) pressed Gharakhanian on the exact relationship between WC and the Travis County DA’s office, Gharakhanian said she “thinks that [the DA’s] office at times has consulted with Wren Collective on different initiatives that we’re working on,” though she was not aware of WC providing policy consultation to the office.
Individuals also raised concerns about alleged campaign support from left-wing billionaire George Soros and Soros-linked political entities for prosecutors they characterized as “Soros DAs.”
Lawmakers also noted the failures of Travis County prosecutors.
“So, I want to talk about the facts,” said State Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R–Lakeway). “The fact is that Jose Garza’s office, [the office] that [Gharakhanian is] so proud to work for, missed the 90-day indictment window 263 times in 2024, meaning 181 defendants, about 70 of them violent or sex offenders.”
“The reality is that Jose Garza’s and your office is falling down on the job,” added Troxclair.
In a heated exchange, State Rep. Richard Raymond (D–Laredo) expressed his frustration to Gharakhanian regarding Garza’s office.
“Part of why we’re having this hearing is because of the big [cases] where people die, right? The public has a right to understand what the hell is going on. Do you get that part? Do you get that part? Yes or no?” asked Raymond.
“Of course I do, Representative Raymond, of course I do,” answered Gharakhanian.
Burrows stated in his appraisal of the hearing that Garza’s absence was evidence that “the work of this committee is just getting started.”
Gov. Greg Abbott has said that he wants to create a statewide prosecutor to step in when local DAs refuse.
Garza’s office has not responded to a request for comment.
