Eversole expected to take a plea

I don’t think this comes as a surprise to anyone.

Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole, who on Monday announced his resignation from office, is expected to plead guilty to one count of making a false statement to FBI agents in a federal court Sept. 30, sources said Wednesday.

A document filed with the court Wednesday afternoon set a “re-arraignment” court date for Eversole and his codefendant Mike Surface to appear before U.S. District Judge David Hittner at 10 a.m. that Friday.

Eversole’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, Surface’s attorney, Chip Lewis, and Department of Justice spokeswoman Laura Sweeney declined comment.

“The fact that a re-arraignment has been set in this matter means he will be pleading guilty to the criminal information that was filed (Monday),” said former federal prosecutor Philip Hilder, who is not connected to the Eversole case.

“It is a confirmation that a plea deal has occurred and that a plea of guilty will be officially entered by the court to the charges contained in the criminal information.”

We’ll know soon enough. There was speculation that a plea was in the works from the beginning, so as I said this should be no surprise. It’s driven more by financial realities and risk aversion than any recognition of wrongdoing on Eversole’s part, but it all counts for the same in the end. It’s about time, that’s all I can really say.

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