A man charged with killing six people in Texas this week was bailed out of jail last year by a group with ties to left-wing billionaire and philanthropist George Soros.
Shane James, 34, was charged with murder after he allegedly killed six people Tuesday, including his parents, in Bexar County and Austin. This was not the first time he found himself in jail, however, as he was charged last year with aggravated assault against his mother, father, and sister, according to records obtained by KSAT and Fox News. He was then bailed out by the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), which received more than $1.2 million from one of Soros’ nonprofits in recent years.
Soros’ Open Society Policy Center sent $700,000 to TOP in 2019 for organizational support and another $565,000 in 2021 to “support policy advocacy on democracy reform and government accountability in Texas.” Fox News reported that these donations marked a sizable portion of TOP’s budget in those years, roughly 30% in 2019 and nearly 25% in 2021.
In a statement, TOP confirmed it paid the $300 bail for James in February 2022.
“Texas Organizing Project … is profoundly saddened and deeply troubled by the recent tragic events involving Shane James,” the group said. “We condemn his most recent egregious acts, full stop. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims and their families during this incredibly difficult time.”
“The events that have unfolded are devastating, and we recognize the pain and suffering this incident has caused,” the statement continued. “We take our responsibilities seriously and acknowledge that we must address both the immediate impact of this tragedy and the broader implications for our bail program.”
James engaged in an hours-long shooting spree that killed six and injured three more, including two police officers.
A law enforcement source told KSAT that TOP bonds out as many as 25-30 Bexar County inmates per month. These bonds are $5,000 or less, the source said.
New 4 San Antonio reported that TOP bailed out supposed “low-level offenders” who ended up being repeat offenders with violent criminal histories.Â
In Dallas, the murder rate has been on the rise despite the Dallas Police Department having launched a targeted campaign to fight violent crime, as covered by The Dallas Express. A significant officer shortage has hindered these efforts, with only around 3,000 fielded by DPD despite a City report calling for a force of 4,000.
