AUSTIN, Texas — The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has settled with the Texas Attorney General’s Office in a lawsuit over releasing information about a secret $115,000 security allotment DA José Garza received last year.
The lawsuit came after Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled in October that Garza and the Travis County Auditor’s Office must release some records sought by the KVUE Defenders amid ongoing reporting on the issue.
As a result of the agreement, the DA’s Office has agreed to “consistently disclose of security-related information,” a spokesperson said in a brief statement.
Travis County commissioners unanimously approved a motion to “approve funding” of $115,000 to Garza “for necessary security enhancements” to protect his safety.
Paxton and government transparency experts argued it happened illegally outside of public view.
Dispatch logs obtained by the KVUE Defenders show deputy constables have performed a special security assignment at Garza’s house almost nightly since early February.
The KVUE Defenders could not find another example of another local official receiving this type of taxpayer-funded security for this long of a period based on a perceived threat.
Garza released the following statement Friday evening regarding the settlement:
“We are grateful to the Office of the Texas Attorney General for their efforts to reach a resolution of this matter. This preliminary resolution will allow the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to be transparent about security-related matters and maintain safety in the face of threats of harm.”