TEXAS – Campaign finance records reviewed by Houston Stringer show Texas politicians, political organizations and political action committees have reported paying nearly half a million dollars to Aubrey R Taylor Communications since 2015.
The reported payments come as Taylor faces renewed scrutiny following allegations by Dr. Matthews, who has accused the blogger and political operative of targeting political opponents, activists, court watchers and other critics through his online platforms.
The nearly $400,000 identified by Houston Stringer reflects only payments reported to Aubrey R Taylor Communications. Transparency USA currently reports $395,048 in total payments received by the entity between 2015 and the present. The figure does not include payments made to any other businesses, entities or names that may be associated with Taylor.
According to campaign finance records reviewed so far, more than $395,000 in reported payments have been made to Aubrey R Taylor Communications by candidates, officeholders and political organizations across Texas. The payments span multiple election cycles and include both Democratic and Republican candidates.
The review comes as Dr. Matthews publicly questioned why elected officials continue to hire and financially support Taylor despite what she described as a lengthy criminal record and a history of targeting critics and political opponents.
During a recent press conference, Dr. Matthews presented documents she said were public records concerning Taylor’s criminal history, court records and other legal matters. She also questioned whether politicians who hired Taylor were aware of his background before making campaign expenditures to his company.
Readers can review the campaign finance records for themselves through Transparency USA:
Names identified in campaign finance records reviewed by Houston Stringer as reporting payments to Aubrey R Taylor Communications include:
Current and former elected officials, candidates and political figures:
- Abigail Anastasio
- Adaugo Ifeoma Duru
- Alicia Franklin York
- Alexandra Smoots-Hogan
- Alyssa Lemkuil
- Arlene Hecht
- Bert Richardson
- Briscoe Cain
- Bruce Bain
- Chad Bridges
- Charley Prine
- Cheryl Elliott Thornton
- Clinton Wells Jr.
- Cory Sepolio
- DaSean Jones
- Damiane Curvey
- Dan Lemkuil
- David Newell
- Dawn Deshea Rogers
- Dedra Davis
- Deirdre Dickson-Gilbert
- Fredericka Phillips
- Fred Schuchart
- George Powell
- James Lombardino
- Jeralynn Manor
- Jerry Zimmerer
- Jeffrey Boyd
- John A. Clark
- John Schmude
- Julia Maldonado
- Katherine McDaniel
- Kelli Johnson
- Kendall Baker
- Ken Wise
- Kevin Yeary
- Kimberly Yvette Willis
- Kyle Carter
- Latosha Lewis Payne
- Linda Dunson
- Manish Seth
- Matthew Murphy
- Michelle Moore
- Mike Engelhart
- Nikita Harmon
- Nile Copeland
- Paul Simpson
- Philip Gommels
- Renee Magee
- Robert Clark Johnson Jr.
- Ronald Reynolds
- Roy Moore
- Sandra Peake
- Senfronia Thompson
- Sharon Hemphill
- Shawn Thierry
- Sonya Heath
- Staci Williams
- Tami Pierce
- Terri Jackson
- Tracy D. Good
- Valoree Swanson
- Wesley Ward
- William “Randy” Bates Jr.
Political organizations and committees:
- Young Conservatives of Texas PAC
The campaign records do not indicate wrongdoing by any candidate, officeholder, organization or vendor. Political expenditures for communications, consulting, advertising and related services are legal and routinely reported under Texas campaign finance laws.
Houston Stringer is continuing to review campaign finance filings and related public records as part of an ongoing examination of payments made to Aubrey R Taylor Communications and the role the blogger has played in Texas politics.
Taylor’s response to the allegations was not immediately available.
