Lawyers Caballero, Leeds Take Aim At DA’s Investigation Against Pastor Brown

It’s a new twist in what started as an effort to take away the health benefits of gay and unmarried partners of city employees but soon spiraled into a battle to oust El Paso’s mayor and a pair of city representatives.

Outspoken attorneys Theresa Caballero and Stuart Leeds stood alongside El Paso pastor Tom Brown on Saturday afternoon.

Brown, a leading force behind the recall effort of Mayor John Cook and City Representatives Susie Byrd and Steve Ortega, is currently under investigation by the El Paso district attorney’s office.

At a news conference, Caballero and Leeds said the investigation is politically motivated, adding they are ready to take on District Attorney Jaime Esparza.

“We’re not going to let (Esparza) get away with it,” Leeds said. “We’re gonna stop him, we’re gonna wrestle him to the ground just like we always do.”

Esparza told ABC-7 the investigation into Brown began after the Texas Attorney General’s office contacted his office about a complaint regarding the circulation of the recall petition and a potentially illegal corporate donation.

The district attorney said he couldn’t comment further on the case.

Caballero, who ran unsuccessfully against Esparza three years ago, said she believes Brown and his followers have broken no laws.

“If there is a law on the books criminalizing like-minded people congregating in their places of worship and promoting political beliefs, then that law is toxic trash,” Caballero said.

Brown and those in favor of a recall want the city officials out of office for overturning a voter-approved ordinance stripping health benefits away from gay and unwed partners of city employees.

Cook, Byrd and Ortega told ABC-7 they voted to keep the health insurance for domestic partners because they say the ordinance was vaguely worded and would have taken away benefits from roughly 200 unintended people.

The city representatives and the mayor have also said it is discriminatory to take away the health insurance of gay and unwed partners of city employees.

At Saturday’s news conference, one recall supporter said he feels the issue is no longer only about benefits.

“This is about an issue of democracy,” said Ruben Ochoa. “When you have politicians disturb the will of the voters, then you’ve got a lot of people who are very angry.”

There is also an organized movement to defeat the recall effort. Supporters of the mayor are scheduled to hold a rally Sunday at 5 p.m. at El Paso’s Memorial Park.