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A month after receiving a threat on social media from an Orange County man, two men knocked on the door of House Speaker Dade Phelan’s home and confronted his wife on Feb. 12.
According to Phelan through Spokesperson Cait Wittman, two unidentified men, falsely declaring themselves to be doorknockers on behalf of Dade Phelan, knocked on the Phelan’s door and confronted his wife, Kim, with a “series of completely baseless claims related to the ongoing campaign.”
“This was not just a distasteful gag – it was yet another instance of extreme political harassment that raises serious concerns about the lengths to which Dade Phelan’s opponents will go to mislead voters into supporting David Covey’s campaign,” Whiteman wrote in a statement. “This episode is part of a disturbing pattern, following closely on the heels of an outspoken David Covey supporter being recently arrested after issuing terroristic threats against Dade Phelan on social media.”
On Jan. 15, Daniel Leblanc, 44, of Orange was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony offense, against Phelan on a social media site. Leblanc remains in custody in the Jefferson County Correctional Facility under a $500,000 bond.
“The persistence of these impostors on the Speaker’s property compelled the intervention of law enforcement, and Speaker Phelan and his family are grateful for their swift and effective response. Targeting, harassing and intimidating a candidate’s family is an egregious violation of security and civility and must be denounced in the strongest possible terms. Such dirty, underhanded tactics have no place in politics,” the statement continued.
According to media reports, Covey’s campaign responded by saying that they had no knowledge or direct involvement in the incident.
According to a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) news release, troopers assisted the Beaumont Police Department (BPD) with the incident. DPS reported that, when troopers arrived shortly after the call, the trespassers had already left the scene.
“DPS takes all matters of personal security and public safety very seriously and we continue to work with the Speaker and his staff to address any additional concerns,” DPS advised.
Two DPS troopers remained near Phelan’s home for the remainder of the night.
Sgt. Shana Clark, DPS spokesperson, reported, at this time, no arrests have been made related to the incident and no additional information is available.
Phelan is running for re-election to his Texas House District 21 seat. He is challenged in the March 5 Republican Primary by Covey of Mauriceville and Alicia Davis of Jasper County.