A Texas attorney was fired from his law firm after he sent what's been described as a "threatening and harassing letter" to a Black federally-appointed judge. According to Houston Chronicle, Ben Aderholt called Judge Erica Hudges, who's running for Houston’s 151st Judicial District, a "political animal" in a letter sporting his now-former employer's letterhead.
"Who do you think you are? Running against a Democrat, a highest rated judge," Aderbolt wrote. "Political animals who treat our judiciary as political games should be soundly defeated."
"I was shocked and surprised to receive that letter," Hughes told FOX 26. "Calling me Erica, as if we are friends or as if he knows me, started off in the wrong direction. The letter progresses and gets progressively worse."
She continued, "The ‘animals’ part stands out to me, that an individual in 2024 would show such disdain for an individual they've never met."
Coats-Rose, Aderholt's ex-law firm, confirmed they terminated the Houston attorney in a statement sent to Hughes.
“We emphatically denounced Mr. Aderholt’s letter and have terminated his employment with Coats Rose effective immediately,” a letter obtained by the news station reads. “We sincerely apologize to you.”
Aderholt apologized in a statement sent to news outlets, calling his actions "unintentional and careless" and "an error of judgment."
Hughes is the first Black woman elected as a Harris County criminal court judge, and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed her as an immigration judge in 2021. The decorated candidate said she's faced harassment and threatening letters like Aderholt's during her campaign.
Incumbent Judge Mike Engelhart sued to have Hughes disqualified from the Democratic primary race over 102 petitions she gathered, Houston Chronicle reports. Despite the Texas Supreme Court dismissing the case, she continued to receive blowback from political opponents.
Hughes emerged victorious in the primary last week and will head to the general election.
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