Flashback - 2021 TX Lege passes, Abbott signs bill for greater POA transparency

Every so often I'd ask friends and family about why they don't attend or watch their own property owners association board meetings. Time and again one of their biggest bug-a-boos about attending these meetings is notice--when, where and what time--or "can I watch from the comfort of my own home"? 

 

So its worth noting for my friends in Texas that among the bills passed by the 2021 Texas Legislature was SB1588-- which now requires property owners associations to notify members six days before a regular or special board meeting and post the notice on the association website.

 

From the Bill Analysis: (emphasis mine)

Open board meetings. The bill would require notices to members of a regular or special board meeting of a property owners’ association to be provided at least 144 hours, rather than 72 hours, before the start of regular board meeting and at least 72 hours before the start of a special board meeting. Notice would have to be posted on the home page of any internet website available to association members that was maintained by the association, including a website maintained by a management company on behalf of the association

The Community Associations Institute Texas Legislative Action Committee posted a recap of the 2021 Texas Legislative session where you can learn what bills were tracked and analyzed by CAI pertaining to property owner associations. 

 

Another nugget tucked into SB1588 makes property association board members, their spouse

or a person residing in a current board member's household ineligible to serve on the associations architectural control committee (ACC), and adds language regarding the homeowners rights to install security measures.  

COMING SOON! How to keep your Homeowners Association Great!

With both Texas and Florida gearing up for their respective 2023 legislative sessions, County Examiner is pleased to announce a new section of online resources that affect the rights of residents who choose to live in a property owners association. 

 

We're also keeping an eye on what legislation gets filed for consideration in both Austin and Tallahassee. And if we come across court cases or interesting stories the team will highlight them here too.

But first a bit of a primer and the disclaimer: the team behind County Examiner is not comprised of lawyers but we are American citizens with a right to educate ourselves and be knowledgeable of our rights should we choose to live in a common interest community.

 

In Texas the website of the State Law Library provides a legal research guide to understanding "property associations" or what many refer to as a "homeowners association" defined in Section 202.001 of the Texas Property Code. If your property owners association has registered as a non-profit the Secretary of State website will allow you to search and view for your associations articles of incorporation and other documents related to its formation.

In Florida Section 718 and Section 720 provide procedures for how your condominium and homeowners associations should be operating. And in Florida the Department of State is your resource for searching and viewing your associations articles of incorporation and other documents.

 

 

 

 

 

Three Texas counties are ground zero as Dan Patrick's meddling in SD 24 GOP primary race comes to light

As early voting gets underway in Texas' "first-in-the-nation" 2022 primaries, the Texas counties of Sutton, Atascosa and Medina are shaping up to be ground zero as the states Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's meddling in the Senate District 24 GOP primary race comes to light.

Medina and Sutton counties fall squarely into Texas Congressional District 23 AND Texas Senate District 24. The SD 24 map below shows an Atascosa carve-out Dan Patrick and the Texas Legislature created for the Dan Patrick  - endorsed candidate Pete Flores.

And if Senate District 24 GOP primary voters in Sutton, Medina and Atascosa counties need further evidence of Dan Patrick's meddling in their choice for State Senator there's nothing like taking a peek at page 1 of Pete Flores' campaign finance report.

A campaign finance report for a campaign that just so happens to share the sames Houston address as Patricks' long time svengali Allen Blakemore.

That's it.

For now.

The Five Texas Republicans who ignored pleas to postpone Jan 6, 2021 Electoral Count

 As "first-in-the-nation" 2022 primaries get underway in Texas, County Examiner is revisiting and publishing a much needed reminder of how every member of the Texas delegation to Congress voted on January 6, 2021. 

Who among the Texas Republicans voted to fulfill their oath of office by supporting the then and now, well-founded pleas of election maladministration in the November 2020 Presidential election? Which Texas Republicans had the courage to reject the deception and threats heaped upon battleground state legislators by their own state executives and local officials desperate to prevent investigations into election law violations? 

And who among the Texas Republicans joined the Texas Democrats & totally ignored their Constitutional duty, their responsibility to the American people & their colleagues in Congress by turning a blind eye to admitted violations of explicit elections laws enacted by judicial fiat or state legislatures in violation of separation of powers? (Go here, here, here, here for details)

Texas primary voters should take this information and factor it into your decision-making process as you vote tomorrow through March 1.

Taken from a Washington Post electoral college count tracker these are the five members of the Texas delegation who did the latter--joined Mike Pence, the Democrats and together ignored the pleas of their colleagues in Congress who only wanted more time for their battleground state legislators to meet and fulfill their constitutional duties:

• Senator John Cornyn (who is not on the 2022 ballot)
• Representative Dan Crenshaw - TX CD2
• Reporesentative Tony Gonzales - TX CD23
• Representative Chip Roy - TX CD21
• Representative Van Taylor - TX CD3
• Representative Michael McCaul - TX CD10

Hold them accountable at the ballot box. They are in part a key reason why Joe Biden is in office today.

Texas October Surprise! Lt. Col Allen West reveals National Guard Caught Coordinating With Cartels

Lt. Col. Allen West, Republican candidate for Governor of Texas appeared on Lance Wallnau's show "Firewall" earlier today and revealed a huge October surprise.

Allen West told Wallnau and his audience it appears there is some type of coordination (not resistance) between the Mexican cartels and the National Guard ----together enabling the illegal aliens crossing into Texas and placement into the hands of NGO's (non governmental organizations).

NGO's BTW who are getting taxpayer money to fly the illegal aliens across the country to become the problem of other states like Louisiana, New York and Florida.

Flashback: Texas RINO Congressman pleads for Biden to use Laughlin AFB to dump illegals into Florida, NY

As Texans  mark their absentee mail ballots or head to the polls on Monday to vote in the "First-In-The-Nation" 2022 primaries it's worth taking a trip down memory lane to June 4, 2021. 

That was the day Texas RINO Congressman Tony Gonzales wrote to Jennifer Miller, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Energy, and Environment, requesting she work with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to fly the illegal aliens out of his Texas congressional district and essentially dump them onto the taxpayers of Louisiana, New York and Florida.

Here's the text of the letter:

"I am writing to express my support for expanding access to Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). 

As you know, the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is experiencing record levels of migrant apprehensions. Local, state, and federal entities in the region are thus severely limited in their detainment and processing capabilities. As a result, substantial numbers of migrants, pending trial, are being released into communities in my district, overwhelming local resources and creating unsustainable bottlenecks. 

To help alleviate the high traffic this region is enduring, I urge you to collaborate with ICE to facilitate flights for migrants out of Laughlin Air Force Base and to their final destinations. The current crisis on the border requires law enforcement agencies to be adaptable in their operations and work with counterparts to effectively manage federal resources. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter and please contact my office if any questions arise."

We now know the Biden Administration made good on Texas RINO Congressman Tony Gonzales' request. 

Even Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson exploded when he learned the Laughlin AFB flights were dumped in Alexandria, LA.

“There are a lot more questions than there are answers right now,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La. “In fact, we are seeking those answers. I sent a letter to the President himself just two days ago that we get some of this data that’s accurate, that we get some of the plans of ICE.”

Then there were comments from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis: 

Governor Ron Desantis proposes bussing illegal immigrants, brought to Florida, up to Delaware. "I will send them to Delaware and do that. If he's (President Biden) not going to support the border being secured, then he should be able to have everyone there." pic.twitter.com/V8WuoUTGD4

— CBS4 News Gainesville (@mycbs4) November 10, 2021

Instead of Tony's Texas voters and communities being overwhelmed his thought process was for Joe Biden to dump this mess on Louisiana, New York and Florida.

Decertify Wisconsin! State hearing on campaigns, elections reveals 1.5 million illegal voter registrations

A public hearing of the Wisconsin Committee on Campaigns and Elections was held on February 9, 2022. The sole invited speaker presented his findings of analysis on the Wisconsin Election Commission database and oh boy, the results he shared are astounding.

Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy and every single Republican member of Congress--in both chambers---received a letter from the Pennsylvania Senate, knew of 15 Wisconsin state Republicans who wrote to Mike Pence, heard arguments in the House Chambers, or was aware of 88 state legislators from the five battleground states who signed a letter addressed to Mike Pence ---all asking Congress and/ or Pence to delay certification of the November 2020 Presidential election for very legitimate and more importantly LEGAL, y'know "Rule of Law"  reasons.

BTW, who wants an October surprise in February just as the "first-in-the-nation" Texas primaries get underway next week?

In Wisconsin:

1.5 million illegal voter registrations
155,000 suspected fake voters

"Well over -- well over -- 50,000 illegally cast ballots that we can prove" from Nov. 3, 2020 pic.twitter.com/aLWkGonUDE

— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 11, 2022

 

2 bedroom apartment has 26 registered "voters"

16 unit building with 290 registered "voters"

Single family home with 19 registered "voters"

"We've found tens of thousands of these." pic.twitter.com/ePnAMtuUfw

— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 11, 2022

Wisconsin has 4 million adults but 7.1 million voter registrations pic.twitter.com/G89m0rioHq

— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 11, 2022

Eastbound & Down?? US could see trucker vax protest from Cali to DC

The NY Post reports on a bulletin issued by U.S. Department of Homeland Insecurity--- headed by Secretary Buford T Justice ----that warn ..."a convoy of truckers could head from California and to Washington, DC."

The protest could be over vaccine mandates for truckers.

And just in time for the "first-in-the-nation" Texas primaries!

Set Aside & Decertify! AZ's Mark Finchem introduces resolution to decertify 3 2020 AZ county elections

Arizona State Representative Mark Finchem introduced a resolution to set aside and decertify the Nov 2020 election results in three Arizona counties.

 

The resolution, HCR 2033 (HERE) calls on Maricopa, Pima and Yuma counties to set aside their election results "based on clear and convincing evidence that the elections in those counties were irredeemably compromised".

 

One bit of evidence among the whereas clauses on pages 1 and 2 of the resolution reads as follows (emphasis mine):

"Whereas, the Arizona Election Code requires that all persons voting in an election must be registered to vote twenty-nine days before an election by law, and voter registration was extended by the federal judiciary to October 23 in direct conflict with A.R.S. section 16-101,1 subsection A, paragraph 3, a violation of the separation of powers;"

and ironically coincides EXACTLY what Arizona's Rep. Andy Biggs asked the entire U.S. House of Representatives to consider during his January 6, 2021 objections to Arizona electoral votes at the 23:49 minute mark of this CSPAN video.

 

"Arizona also establishes deadlines for voter registration. The deadline has been in place for 30 years."

 

"THIS year the voter registration deadline was October 5. Early voting commenced two days later."

"Five days before the deadline, a group filed a lawsuit demanding that an Arizona election officials does not have to enforce the deadline."

 

"The Federal District court said that other states have a deadline later than Arizona and some allow for registration and that Arizona's new deadline would be the time HE chose, not the legislators."

"The appellate court noted that the Arizona deadline established by the state legislature was sound and appropriate and compiled with the Constitution. But the appellate court merely shortened the extension, bypassing of the deadline to 10 days. The appellate court, without legal justification, also decided that everyone who registered after the legal deadline, but before the deadline created by judicial fiat could still vote."

 

Bottom line: in a violation of separation of powers the judiciary unilaterally changed a voter registration law aka deadline that had been in place for THIRTY years.

 

Mark Finchem's resolution summarizes this and other justifications that give complete legitimacy to Biggs' objection cited above.  

County Examiner recently reported on the reemergence of a January 4, 2021 letter sent to all Republican members of Congress from the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also asking to support objections to the electoral college votes and delay certification of the November 2020 election results.

 

 

 

 

 

President Trump skewers RINO Mitch McConnell for failing to stop the fraudulent 2020 election from certification

President Trump skewered RINO U.S. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell yesterday, in part for doing nothing to stop the most fraudulent election in American history.

Released in a tweet from the Save America PAC through spokesperson Liz Harrington the statement can now be linked directly to the January 4, 2021 letter written by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania state senators and addressed to Mitch McConnell himself.

The existence of that letter was revealed during an January 28, 2022 episode of Steve Bannon's show "War Room", which County Examiner wrote about here. 

The letter urged then U.S. Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and  and Republican Leader of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy to delay certification of the Electoral College based on violations of both the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions. 

As CE noted yesterday the letter was also sent to all Republican members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

One such violation at both the Commonwealth and Federal level pertained to the passage of Act 77-the law which allowed for no-excuse mail voting, which a Commonwealth court struck down as unconstitutional.

In its decision, the court noted that while the law did expand access to the ballot, the changes to mail voting laws require a constitutional amendment.

 

NEW!

President Donald J. Trump:

"Mitch McConnell does not speak for the Republican Party, and does not represent the views of the vast majority of its voters. He did nothing to fight for his constituents and stop the most fraudulent election in American history. And he does... pic.twitter.com/FiCzWWkm7I

— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) February 9, 2022

As more material surfaces linking Republican Congressional leadership and membership to requests from states to delay certification of the November 2020 election-----and with the start of the 2022 primary season right around the corner,  voters and challengers to GOP incumbents should research the public accounts to determine where their Senator or Congressman stood on the Commonwealth's request. 

Best you Texans do that research before early voting starts next week. If your Congressman didn't go on the record as one of the 60 joining Arizona Congressman Paul Gosars objection ---well---County Examiner won't tell you what to do.

Devastating letter surfaces urging Congress to delay certification of Nov 2020 election

A letter from the Pennsylvania Senate urging Congressional leaders to delay certification of the November 2020 election surfaced on a January 28, 2022 episode of Steve Bannon's show "War Room".

 

Pennsylvania attorney Wally Zimolong joined the show to comment on breaking news that a Commonwealth court struck down Act 77, the law that established no-excuse mail voting in Pennsylvania, saying it violated the state constitution. 

 

In its decision, the court noted that the law has expanded access to the ballot, but the majority said that any changes to mail voting laws would require a constitutional amendment.

 

Later in the episode Bannon revealed the existence of the letter below. 

 

Dated January 4, 2021 and addressed to then Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Leader of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, the Pennsylvania Senate outlines violations of both the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions --violations of separations of powers and setting the time, date place and manner of conducting elections which is reserved to the state legislatures.

 

"Due to these inconsistent and questionable activities we believe that PA election results should not have been certified by our Secretary of State."

 

 

 

RINO Texas Congressman shares office building with Biden "Border Invasion" federal contractor

Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales - a first term member of the House of Representatives running for reelection this year- has a field office in a San Antonio building owned by a Biden "border invasion" federal contractor, County Examiner can reveal.

Representing Texas' 23rd District Gonzales official government website features a district office address of 6333 De Zavala Rd which public records reveal shares the same address as Family Endeavors, a nonprofit linked to the Biden Administrations' suspicious, massive no-bid contract awarded to Endeavors and Biden Administrations border invasion of illegal aliens.

 

The contracts potentially totalling over $641 million were awarded in March 2021 through Immigration and Customs Enforcement arm of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of HHS shortly after Gonzales was sworn into office on January 3, 2021.

On May 24th 2021 the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) applauded the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General for launching an investigation into a massive, no-bid contract awarded to Endeavors Inc.—a nonprofit linked to the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

“The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General is right to launch an investigation into the Biden Administration’s suspicious no-bid contract awarded to Endeavors Inc. There are serious concerns about the award process, the nonprofit’s ability to meet the contract needs, and the link to the Biden-Harris Transition Team. The cost of President Biden’s border crisis already burdens American taxpayers and we cannot allow the Biden Administration to exploit it to reward political allies with lucrative taxpayer-funded contracts. This is government waste and abuse and must be addressed. I hope this investigation sends a strong message to the Biden Administration that taxpayer dollars cannot be misused to line the pockets of political friends."

 

Mark Levin: Mitch McConnell, Karl Rove behind the political attacks in GA on Herschel Walker

Mark Levin closed out hour one of his Thursday August 26, 2021 radio show announcing Kentucky Senator and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is involved in the vicious political attacks in Georgia against Herschel Walker.

And you'll never guess who McConnell's svengali is.

Start from the 48:05 minute mark: 

"By the way it's my understanding Mitch McConnell is encouraging all the vicious attacks in Georgia on Herschel Walker because, y'know Mitch McConnell and his svengali..what's his name--Karl Rove --they've a different candidate..they did so well last time with the two mannequins....."

Walker, 59 — a former running back from the University of Georgia who went on to play for NFL teams including the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles — is joining a number of other Republicans who hope to beat out Democratic incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock.

Did I mention Herschel Walker is backed by President Trump?

For daring to run against lazy establishment RINO's and provide voters with competitive election choices in Georgia, Walker is getting the Larry Elder and Lt. Col. Allen West treatment from Republicans. 

Lawful entry be damned; Biden State department allows Afghani's to bypass CBP at Dulles

Americans were recently reminded that in April this year President Biden  said he would withdraw the remaining American forces from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, telling the nation “it’s time for American troops to come home”. 

Everyday rational Americans thought that meant a well coordinated, orderly plan to prioritze the withdraw  of Americans from Afghanistan was developed and would be implemented.

But amidst the chaos over the  past two weeks it's clear the priority of the Biden Administration was "Everyone OTHER than Americans."

That was the subject of Fox News' Tucker Carlson's opening monolgue last night.

But what caught our attention, beginning at the 3:50 minute mark, were two accounts of prioritizing the evacuation of Afghanistan nationals which had County Examiner wonder: 

"Did these foreign nationals lawfully enter the United States after inspection and authorization by an immigration officer?" 

One pilot from United Airlines-- someone who is flying people out of Kabul as part of Civilian Reserve Airlift Fleet just told Fox News he was simply told to evacuate people from Afghanistan--- no details beyond that.

He was never given a passenger manifest and when his airplane arrived at Dulles outside of Washington the State Department refused to share any passenger information with CBP ; they whisked them on through.

Another commercial airlines employee, a flight attendant just told this show her flight crew would be ferrying American civilians who had escaped from Kabul  and she was happy to do it, but when they arrived in Qatar in the Gulf they learned that in fact would be carrying NO American citizens at all, none instead theyd have to transport Afghan nationals many of who who became unruly on the flight ...

Isn't a foreign nationals entry into the United States defined as “the lawful entry of the alien into the United States after inspection and authorization by an immigration officer?"

Did these Afghan nationals lawfully enter the United States? 

An emerging premise is THIS has been the plan; the unspoken and political plan to import 100's of thousands of Afghan nationals into this country who have more in common with the Taliban and their rule of law than with America, the U.S. Constitution and our Rule of Law.

GA Gubernatorial Candidate Vernon Jones today responded to Brian Kemp’s message by declaring Kemp is working with Democrats to bring the Taliban to GA.

Texas DPS publishes update on Operation Lone Star; ProPublica seeks more details

The Texas Department of Public Safety released their August 5, 2021 update of their activities related to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's "Operation LoneStar" initiative. County Examiner has learned one non-profit news room that frequently collaborates with the Texas Tribune is seeking additional detail on the operations immigration and prosecution efforts.

The DPS report reveals over 58,000 migrant apprehensions & referrals and in excess of $3.7 million dollars in currency were seized inside the interest area of Operation LoneStar while over $8.3 million in currency was seized outside the interest area. 

DPS pursuit stats for four regions in South Texas were also published in the report; DPS revealed a 774% increase in the Del Rio (DRT) sector pursuits.

Operation Lone Star Aug 5 U... by Yvonne Larsen

According to Texas DPS the migrant referrals began March 17, 2021 and that date coincides precisely with an open records request for immigration arrest, prosecutions information sent to Val Verde County, Texas just a few days prior to the Texas DPS report release.

Note in section (q) the specific request for the names of arresting and investigating officers and information on the complaintant.

March 17, 2021 also coincides with the exact date Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office published a press release announcing the expansion of Operation Lone Stars effort on human trafficking related to illegal border crossings. (emphasis mine)

"President Biden’s reckless open border policies have created a humanitarian crisis that is enriching the cartels, smugglers, and human traffickers who often prey on and abuse unaccompanied minors,” said Governor Abbott. “Americans deserve to know what the Biden Administration is doing to  investigate the surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the border and to protect those who are victims of human trafficking. That is why we are expanding Operation Lone Star to include anti-human trafficking efforts, such as interviewing unaccompanied minors to learn if they are victims of human trafficking. This will help us gain information to keep these children safe, root out human trafficking or other criminal activity, and prevent more children from being trafficked and abused. Whether it's securing the border or fighting human trafficking, the state of Texas will always step up to fill the gaps left by Washington."

County Examiner looks forward to ProPublica's report on the victims of illegal alien crime--the Texas landowners & the physical condition of their property, their livestock loss and how their rights, the rights of Americans are being trampled on.

"Anyone but Abbott" is the battle cry---hmmm, not so fast, TEC records show

"Anyone But Abbott" might be the battle cry of some Texans supporting Don Huffines for Texas Governor but a review of campaign finance reports could leave others scratching their head saying "Whoa Nellie; not so fast". 

We found one Huffines family member made a hefty campaign contribution to Texans For Greg Abbott and have the documents to back it up.

Earlier this month County Examiner reported about Bianca Gracia's appearance on Steve Bannon's show War Room: Pandemic. (emphasis mine)

Earlier today Bianca Gracia from Latinos for Trump appeared on Steve Bannon's show War Room: Pandemic. She told Bannon's audience there have been no arrests of illegal aliens as Texas Governor Abbott had promised and.... she is supporting Don Huffines.

"Anyone But Abbott"? Well it seems a member of Don Huffines own family is in complete disagreement with that statement; let's take a peek at those pesky campaign finance reports, shall we?

According to data reported to the Texas Ethics Commission one James Huffines made a $10,000 contribution to Texans for Greg Abbott. The contribution was recorded as made on June 25, 2021, barely over one month AFTER Don Huffines May 10 announcement to challenge Governor Abbott in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

 

"Anyone but Abbott"? One member of the Huffines family doesn't think so. Or perhaps hedging bets is the more likely scenario. 

Houston, TX-based lobbyist for Qatar reveals campaign donations, contact with Bush School at TAMU

 A Houston, Texas-based lobbyist for Qatar filed an updated disclosure with the United States Justice Department on June 26, 2021, a search of public records revealed. 

The foreign lobbying disclosure document required under FARA, the Foreign Agent Registration Act submitted by Chase Untermeyer brings to light campaign cash donations made to two Texas elected officials and activities undertaken in conjunction with his consulting agreement with the State of Qatar.

Required under FARA a registrant such as Untermeyer must disclose compensation, campaign donations or any thing of value made from his own funds to candidates for elected office. 

For the period 1/1/2021 through 5/31/2021 Untermeyer received $75,000 in fees as a Texas advisor to the State of Qatar.

In May 2021 he made two campaign contributions; $250.00 to Houston councilman Edward Pollard and 500.00 to U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas. 

The lobbyist for Qatar disclosed his activities undertaken in accordance with his advisory role:

• Ongoing liaison between the Consulate General of Qatar and an effort by MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to obtain Qatari funding for a radiotherapy facility in Gaza,

• Ongoing local liaison for the Qatar Harvey Fund in the execution of its projects in the greater Houston area,

• Liaison between the Embassy of Qatar and principals of the Houston-Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund in connection with an Embassy donation to the fund, and

• A series of emails and telephone calls offering Qatari subject-matter experts to the following entities: The Baker Institute at Rice University; the Bush School at Texas A&M; the Clements Center at the University of Texas; the Institute for the Study of Western Civilization at Texas Tech University; the Tower Center at Southern Methodist University; the Center for International Studies at the University of St. Thomas; the Kormetsky Center for Excellence at St. Edwards' University; the Asia Society-Texas Center and the World Affairs Councils of Houston, Dallas-Ft Worth, and Austin.

Texas A&M University receives more than $76.2 million each year to operate its branch campus in Qatar, The Washington Post reported. The Post obtained a copy of the contract and budget documents for the campus via a public records request in 2016.

Texas A&M’s campus in Qatar’s “Education City” has awarded 635 degrees in engineering fields since its establishment in 2003. It is one of six U.S. branch campuses funded by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. 

Each of the branches has a specific programmatic focus: Carnegie Mellon’s branch focuses on business and computer science, Cornell University’s on medicine, Georgetown University’s on foreign service, Northwestern University’s on communication and journalism, and Virginia Commonwealth University’s on art and design. The Post estimates that operating expenses for all six of the branches totaled $404.8 million in 2014.

Seeking public records about potential influence by the Qatar government’s funding of certain Texas A&M University programs at its campus in Education City, Al Rayyan, Qatar; earlier this week County Examiner reported a Judicial Watch announcement for the following:

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it filed petition for review with the Supreme Court of Texas regarding a lawsuit on behalf of its client Zachor Legal Institute under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), seeking records about potential influence by the Qatar government’s funding of certain Texas A&M University programs at its campus in Education City, Al Rayyan, Qatar (Zachor Legal Institute, v. Qatar Foundation For Education, Science And Community Development (No. 21-0542)

Zachor Legal Institute is a U.S.-based advocacy group dedicated to combatting the spread of anti-Semitism. Zachor made two requests under the Texas Public Information Act for information about the funding or donations made to Texas A&M by the government of Qatar and agencies and subdivisions of the government of Qatar. Qatar controversially has aligned itself with Islamic terrorists and extremists, which has placed it at odds with the United States, Israel and other U.S. allies in the Middle East.