Westside Dems Raise New Concerns About Cori Harbour-Valdez

The Westside Democrats held a meeting last night via zoom that was meant to feature the candidates they endorsed for the primary election, but some new revelations came out of the meeting that haven't been previously revealed about 327th Judicial District Court candidate Cori Harbour-Valdez. 

They addressed the picture with Chapo Guzman's wife's photo and one of the attorneys spoke at length about what lawyers do, and indigent defense, and representing clients that aren't popular, etc. All valid points and it really is one of the parts of the legal profession most to be admired. 

Cari Harbour-Valdez went on to talk about how she had been assigned to a case in which her client was a co-defendant to Chapo Guzman - then goes on to talk about being a good lawyer and interviewing Chapo's Guzman's wife as a potential witness. She then said the photo was taken for strategic purposes and that the photo saved the life of her client and his family in Mexico. 

Thats great. Wonderful for her that she went out of her way to save the life of her client who is connected to the guy that says he killed more people than 9-11. 

But what she didn't mention was she was taken off the case quite a while ago. 

And the central concern about her judgement still stands. 

Why? Well I'm glad you asked. 

Because her account of the events explains why she posted it on social media. 

It does't explain why its STILL there. 

Thats why the photo is cause for concern. I mean I get it, the Westside Dems endorsed her before the photo came to light, so understandably they either have to unendorsed her, or stand by their endorsement based on the information they had at the time. 

But boy did they lay it on thick...

Your average El Paso is going to have a concern about someone who wants to be entrusted with the gavel and robe, but has a photo with a worldwide drug trafficking figure and apparently can't police their own Facebook page.

The New Revelation

Oh, and speaking of drugs - here's the revelation. Again this was an event for a candidate they endorsed, but the criminal background of her spouse was raised. First, she was asked if he was affiliated with Barrio Azteca, which is a organized crime gang operating in prison and on the streets. She said he was not and doesn't even know where that came from. I'm not sure why they raised that questions because if there is no proof of affiliation, why make that information public knowledge now?

But the spin on Cori Harbour Valdez's background is what I found most interesting. The way she characterized it was that he got into some trouble with a drug charge, then ended up doing some time, "but look at all he's done since then", was how she wrapped it up. 

Her spouses record, to my knowledge, was thrown into the public realm until that meeting so it was probably unfair to bring it up. But they did, and she replied, and she's a candidate so now I have to talk about her answer. 

Honestly, I don't know his criminal history. All I know is related to what the Westside Democrats brought up. In conversations since that meeting, my understanding is that he was on probation for the original charge, then got in more trouble with the law, leading him to have to do some jail time. I'm looking for the legal records but as I understand it, that is how it went down. 

But like any good spouse, she focused on all the things he's accomplished - and rightfully so because he sounds like while he had a legal past he's probably not proud of, it sounds like the rest of his life he's been an upright dude. Successful at some interesting ventures including coaching wrestling on the international level and racing horses.

In fact she said thats what he was doing when she met him. 

Which brings up something else that is interesting. My understanding is that he was her client. I'm not sure if that was for something like a family case or if it was a criminal case - or the case that the Westside Democrats are taking about, but it is noteworthy. 

Now you all know why I try to keep up with forums, because you never know what you're going to learn next.