Felony charges against Barbie Robinson, the former head of the Harris County Public Health Department, have been dropped.
Prosecutors stated that allegations of her providing insider information to favor certain companies for county contracts would be impossible to prove in court.
The charges, filed under former District Attorney Kim Ogg, concerned $40 million in contracts awarded to IBM and DEMA Management & Consulting, companies Robinson had previously worked with. Robinson was initially charged with misuse of official information in November, followed by indictments for tampering with a governmental record and fraudulent securing of document execution shortly before Ogg left office.
According to the district attorney’s office, now led by DA Sean Teare, a thorough review of the evidence concluded that none of the charges could be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Officials stated that pursuing the case was not in the interest of justice. Documents indicate the charges could be refiled if new evidence emerges.
Since Teare assumed office, other charges against current and former Harris County officials related to a COVID-19 vaccine outreach contract have also been dismissed. Critics of Ogg had suggested her indictments were politically motivated.
The district attorney’s office news release further specified that prosecutors found no evidence Robinson gained any personal or financial benefit from the contract awards or intended to harm the county. Ogg’s office had accused Robinson of using her government email to share information with IBM to aid in securing a mental health services contract and of making false statements on conflict-of-interest forms regarding connections to bidders.
Robinson has consistently denied any wrongdoing.