As the 119th Congress gets to work, many Americans hope that at least some of the swamp’s ways will be eradicated. New members have been sworn in and are expected to bring many up-to-date perspectives and up-to-date ideas. However, there are still a few remaining points from the last Congress that require some attention. One of them is the case of a Texas congresswoman whose voice was needed at a crucial time, but no one knew where she was. Well, she’s been found, but the story gets even stranger.
All family, friends and co-workers hid the fact that Kay Granger was in a dementia care home so that they could continue to benefit from her.
They should ALL be examined.
And why isn’t another member of Congress saying anything about it???
Everyone should be… pic.twitter.com/MrBjLsFizI
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) December 29, 2024
In December, I told you the story of Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), who represented Texas’ 12th Congressional District, which includes Fort Worth and areas to the west. Granger’s colleagues last saw or heard from her in July 2024, the last time she cast a vote in the House of Representatives. Their offices were closed and no one could reach them. She was eventually found at a memory care and assisted living facility and was reported to have been found “confused and wandering around her neighborhood.”
READ MORE: More stories from the swamp – This is where missing Congresswoman Kay Granger was found
From here the story takes a very strange turn and some questions arise. The first: When did Congresswoman Granger’s health begin to decline? The first to be contacted was Granger’s son JD. Mr. Granger was less than gracious and threw a reporter from “Dallas Express” in a profanity-laced barrage from his restaurant. The next stop was Rep. Granger’s staff. Her chief of staff, director of casework, senior legislative assistant, communications director, executive assistant, deputy chief of staff and campaign manager were all contacted seeking information about Rep. Granger. Nobody answered.
But a dubious schedule is emerging. In March 2023, Granger resigned as chairman of the House Budget Committee. In April, an employee claimed that Granger was already struggling with memory problems and was scheduled to be evaluated at the Brain Institute in Dallas. In October 2023, Granger announced that she would not run for re-election. Granger’s other son, Brandon, may have revealed that her condition had worsened sooner than expected. In one Statement to The Dallas Morning News Brandon Granger said, “It’s been a tough year,” noting how surprising it was that her health had deteriorated quickly.
This is where things get sketchy. Granger’s campaign manager, Hillary Shepheard, continued to collect her salary after Granger announced she would not seek re-election. From December 2020 to October 2024, she was listed on a LinkedIn profile as Granger’s campaign manager. Shepheard was paid $68,000 from October 30, 2023 to October 15, 2024. If Kay Granger wasn’t running for re-election, why did she need a campaign manager?
The sketchiness continues. Chief of Staff Stephen Ruhlen received $27,280 for management consulting fees, William Salmon received $1,200 for administrative consulting, Rose Strategies LLC received $30,651.58 for financial consulting and Crosby Ottenhoff Group received $35,267.45 for compliance consulting. All this after Granger’s announcement that she would not be running.
But Kay Granger’s staff knew https://t.co/k2qMfNxS20
– HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) December 29, 2024
Granger’s staff also continued to be paid from July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024, with Ruhlen earning $50,025, Deputy Chief of Staff Charles E. Cripliver earning $48,750 and Director of Casework Josie Flores earning $38,750. In total, approximately $1,394,926 was paid to 25 employees for fiscal year 2024 and $1,250,155.81 in campaign funds between January 2023 and November 2024.
Certainly Kay Granger’s family and co-workers knew about her condition and where she lived. Why didn’t they disclose it? Why did employees, particularly a campaign manager, continue to collect salaries even though Granger had already said she would not run again? Was Granger’s condition kept secret so they could continue to get paid? And the most vital question: Why were the people of Texas CD12 not represented when the crucial votes came in the House of Representatives?
One voter said the following about the treatment he received:
“As a lifelong resident of Tarrant County, I find it shocking that our U.S. representative is at a senior care facility in Fort Worth and voters have not even been notified! As far as I know, she did not seek re-election, but will serve until January 3, 2025. Taxpayers deserve answers!”
Texas State Rep. JM Lozano (R-Kingsville) has called for the following:
“A comprehensive investigation of all health care professionals who may have given her “clearance” to resume her “normal work duties” and A FULL AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF HER DISTRICT AND DC STAFF TO ANALYZE WHAT THEY KNEW.”
Is there a chance that Granger’s condition was known long before it could no longer be covered up? This could be just the beginning of more Swamp Tales.
ALSO READ: You are not sheltered from your own government
Outrage over how a congresswoman could disappear for six months – and no one noticed https://t.co/19IqO47x5O
– Just Regular Rob (@reg1776) December 22, 2024
