Sources told Fox News Digital that a district attorney in Austin, Texas, backed by George Soros, who has faced harsh criticism for his prosecution of police officers and his progressive agenda for sentencing reform, incited outrage from law enforcement when he attended a fallen Austin police officer’s funeral and eventually left early.
When responding to a call about a barricaded gunman holding three hostages on November 11, Austin Police Officer and SWAT Team member Jorge Pastore was shot and killed. Multiple law enforcement sources claim that Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza left the funeral early because his presence incited outrage.
“When he came walking in, I thought what gall this man has to show up at a funeral for an officer killed in the line of duty when all he’s done since he’s been in office is go after cops,” funeral attendee Dennis Farris, president of the Austin Police Retired Officers Association, told Fox News Digital.
Garza ran on a platform of prosecuting police officers, a promise he kept when running for district attorney. He indicted 19 cops for their roles in putting down a Black Lives Matter riot that the department had previously cleared of any wrongdoing, citing political motivations, according to his detractors. In another decision criticised as “more evidence of anti-police bias,” Garza followed through on her pledge to indict Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor for murder.
In addition, Garza has come under fire for his liberal policies and light penalties, which crime victims and their families claim make the city less safe.
Following his request to leave a room designated for first responders because he was “making people uncomfortable,” a law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that Garza attended the funeral and proceeded to a room designated for the mayor and municipal council, where he was also “not supposed to be.”
According to an additional source, Garza made the decision to leave after learning that he was not welcome where he was and that he could watch the funeral on television in a room.
Sources claim Garza was “asked to leave areas he never belonged in the first place” and ultimately departed early, but it’s unclear if he was asked to leave the venue directly at any point.
“It was a slap in the face to every officer there seeing Garza at the funeral,” an Austin police officer at the funeral who wished to remain anonymous told Fox News Digital. “Everyone I spoke to expressed anger, confusion or both given his relationship, or lack thereof, with the law enforcement community.”
“What’s worse, it seemed as though Garza was genuinely confused as to why he was being asked to leave areas he didn’t belong, as though he didn’t understand all the problems he’s caused by unjustly indicting so many of our brothers and sisters. He should have just stayed home.”
Fox News Digital requested a statement from Garza’s office but did not hear back.
In 2020, Garza ran for office with the financial support of leftist billionaire George Soros.
According to campaign finance reports, Soros gave the Texas Justice & Public Safety PAC $652,000 in the months preceding the 2020 Travis County DA election. The same PAC supported Garza’s campaign by spending over $1 million on postal and internet ads.
“From my perspective, he wasn’t welcome and the fact that either he was asked to leave or he chose to leave on his own,” Farris said. “Whatever the case may be, I’m glad he left because he shouldn’t have shown up in the first place.”
In addition, Garza’s brief attendance at the funeral provoked a barrage of social media responses criticising the district attorney’s prior conduct.
“The most anti-Police DA in Austin history was asked to leave a police funeral,” Travis County GOP Chairman Matt Mackowiak posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Actions have consequences.”
“DA Garza knew exactly what he was doing showing up at this funeral,” Austin-area attorney Adam Loewy posted on X. “He knew his presence would create controversy as a family mourned – but did it anyway. Troubling.”
Officer Jorge “George” Pastore of the Austin Police Department was laid to rest on Friday following a lengthy motorcade that travelled a 16-mile route and ended at the Circuit of America’s amphitheatre, where a sizable contingent of law enforcement officers from all over the state had gathered to pay their final respects, according to Fox 7 Austin.
“His dedication to our department, our community and his teammates was second to none. None. Pastore was always all in,” Austin Police Interim Chief Robin Henderson said at the funeral. “Pastore exemplified leadership, teamwork, inclusion, selflessness, passion and resiliency.”
