On February 27, the Liberty Justice Center sent a demand letter on behalf of registered voters in Denton County, Texas, requesting an investigation into criminal election interference by school officials who illegally used public resources to pressure employees into voting for favored candidates.
In February, school administrators from the Denton County Independent School District used their school email addresses to pressure staff to vote in the Republican primary—regardless of their political affiliation—to ensure favored candidates would win the elections. The emails specifically targeted candidates who support the expansion of school choice initiatives in Texas, linking to a political advertisement featuring a color-coded guide on which “friendly” candidates to vote for and which “unfriendly” candidates to vote against. Employees were told that they would not receive raises if the “wrong candidates” won.
The Liberty Justice Center’s demand letter argues that the emails constitute illegal electioneering prohibited under the Texas Election Code. It also encloses affidavits from voters throughout Denton County alleging criminal conduct—enough to trigger a mandatory investigation by the Denton County District Attorney.
“Denton County school officials illegally used public resources to further a politically motivated electioneering scheme,” said Educational Freedom Attorney Dean McGee. “In an attempt to sway the election, they abused their positions to pressure employees into voting against candidates who support school choice. This is a blatant violation of state law, and we are proud to join registered voters throughout Denton County in demanding that the District Attorney promptly investigate this matter.”
The demand letter triggered an investigation to hold these school administrators accountable for using public resources to advance a personal political goal.
On April 2, Director of Special Programs Lindsay Lujan and Principal Jesus Lujan were indicted for using their school email addresses to distribute political advertising. A copy of the indictment for Lindsay Lujan is available here, and a copy of the indictment for Jesus Lujan is available here.
“We are proud to help Texans exercise their right under the Texas Election Code to hold government officials accountable for using taxpayer resources to sway elections. The DA’s actions are a win for all of the Denton voters who came forward to ensure that corruption was not swept under the rug,” said Dean McGee.
A copy of the letter filed by the Liberty Justice Center is available here.
Check back soon for press releases about this brief.
(Texas Scorecard)—Court delays continue to stall a ground-breaking criminal electioneering case initiated by local voters against two Denton Independent School District administrators who urged their staff to vote for anti-school choice candidates in the Republican primary. Denton ISD principals Lindsay and Jesus Lujan sent the political messages using the district’s...
(Wall Street Journal)—Texas Republican voters sent a clear Super Tuesday message to opponents of education freedom within their party. Ten incumbents who are against school choice were either defeated or forced into runoffs in their primary elections. The results are a clear example of ballot-box accountability for career politicians who...
(Center Square)—Criminal charges have been filed against two Denton Independent School District administrators after the ISD was sued by the Texas Attorney General’s Office in February for allegedly committing “illegal electioneering” using taxpayer money. Denton ISD was the first of seven ISDs sued by the Texas attorney general. On Feb....
(Epoch Times)—Two Texas elementary school principals have been criminally charged following allegations of electioneering before the Republican primary elections last month. Jesus Lujan, 33, and Lindsay Lujan, 36, a married couple who are principals at Borman and Alexander Elementary Schools in Denton Independent School District, were indicted separately by a...
(The Lion)—A husband and wife employed by a local school district have been criminally charged after allegations of illegal electioneering in a recent Texas school election. Lindsay and Jesus Lujan, who each work as principals for the Denton Independent School District (ISD), were indicted separately by a grand jury in...
(Dallas Express)—Two senior school administrators in Denton County have been indicted for using a school email platform in an alleged electioneering scheme. The indictments of Denton ISD Alexander Elementary principal Lindsay Luján and her husband Jesus Luján, the principal of Borman Elementary, stem from emails they allegedly sent out in...
(Southeast Texas Record)—After the Liberty Justice Center sent a letter demanding that the Denton County district attorney investigate illegal election interference by school officials, registered voters in Harris County contacted LJC with a similar story of corruption in their own school district, a press release states. On March 28, the...
(Texas Scorecard)—Voters in Harris County are demanding that District Attorney Kim Ogg investigate allegations of illegal electioneering by Huffman Independent School District Superintendent Benny Soileau. More than a dozen voters filled out affidavits accusing Soileau of using taxpayer-funded school resources to promote political issues and candidates during a November 2023...
(North Texas Daily)—Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on February 5 against Denton ISD because of emails two principals sent to school staff he is calling “illegal electioneering,” according to his press release. Paxton said in the release that emails sent from their school accounts by these principals qualify...
(Texas Scorecard)—Citizens in Denton County are directing their district attorney to investigate local school district officials for alleged criminal electioneering violations committed during the ongoing primary elections. With help from the Liberty Justice Center, local voters submitted affidavits to Denton County District Attorney Paul Johnson that describe what they see...
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