Evans says no word from Travis County DA if case is going forward
A global social-media platform helmed by the planet’s richest person has announced it will foot the legal fees for Williamson County GOP Chairwoman Michelle Evans in her tussle with a progressive district attorney.
Evans is charged with invasive visual recording for reposting a controversial photo of a transgender person in a women’s restroom at the Capitol in 2023. She did not take the photo.
X, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk, voiced its support for Evans in a recent online post. Musk’s name has not been used in conjunction with the announcement.
Global Government Affairs, the self-described “ voice of X’s Global Government Affairs team,” posted on social media Dec. 29 that “X is proud to support the legal case of Michelle Evans.”
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled last month that Travis County District Attorney José Garza, a Democrat, can pursue a criminal case against Evans.
“The First Amendment protects Ms. Evans’ speech, yet in a 2-1 vote, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a misguided and dangerous opinion allowing the criminal investigation to go forward,” Global Government Affairs said in its social media post.
The post continued that X will assist Evans pursue an appeal before all 17 judges of the federal appellate court.
“We look forward to the full Fifth Circuit correcting this wrong and preserving free speech, which is the foundation of American democracy,” Global Government Affairs added on X.
Musk’s industries are in Williamson County’s backyard — X, electric-vehicle maker Tesla, the Boring Co., SpaceX and others — in an area that straddles Del Valle in Travis County and extends into Bastrop County.
In addition, Musk is partnering with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., which has a fabrication plant in Taylor, and the nearby RCR Taylor Logistics Park is a shipping point for Tesla vehicles.
More than a year and a half ago, Evans filed a restraining order and a preliminary injunction against Garza’s office to prevent prosecutors from investigating her over the 2023 incident, but the Court of Appeals overturned both.
Evans and some other GOP women were at the Capitol to support Senate Bill 14 to ban gender modification of children.
When asked if Garza plans to move forward with the case, Evans said, “I don’t know.”
Despite the new ruling, neither Evans nor her lawyer have heard from Garza’s office.
The Taylor Press reached out to Garza twice last month to ask if he will be taking this case to court but has received no response.
Garza has described himself as a progressive prosecutor determined to reform the criminal-justice system, according to various media accounts.
Evans is not putting her life on hold while waiting to hear what move Garza is going to make.
In November, she announced her bid for reelection as GOP chair.
“Serving as chair of Williamson County GOP has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Evans said in a statement posted on Facebook. “Over the past two years, we have built an energized, effective and conservative Wilco GOP that delivers real victories for our community. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’m ready to continue that work.”
During the most recent legislative session, lawmakers approved a measure mandating people must use the restroom corresponding to the sex they were assigned at birth.
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“The (U.S.) Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a misguided and dangerous opinion allowing the criminal investigation to go forward.”
— statement on behalf of X
