GOP rival: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is 'to blame for murder'

Republican candidate for the Texas House of Representatives District 121, Jeff Judson, campaigns at the Lion's Field voting site on the first day of early voting, Monday, Feb. 16, 2016. Early voting end on February 26 and the primary election is on March 1. Judson is running against incumbent and Speaker of the House Joe Straus. Also on the Republican ballot for District 121 is Sheila Bean. The Democrats don't have a candidate in their ballot. less Republican candidate for the Texas House of Representatives District 121, Jeff Judson, campaigns at the Lion's Field voting site on the first day of early voting, Monday, Feb. 16, 2016. Early voting end on ... more Photo: Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close GOP rival: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is 'to blame for murder' 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is being accused of murder by GOP primary rival Jeff Judson as early voting gets underway in the state's primary.

Judson, a tea-party Republican who successfully worked to shut down VIA Metropolitan Transit’s streetcar project, sent out an email blast Thursday morning stating that Straus is “to blame for murder,” because the San Antonio Republican has failed to pass legislation banning so-called sanctuary cities in this state.

Judson’s campaign cites a new TV ad from the Young Conservatives of Texas, which features a testimonial from Dan Golvach, whose son Spencer was murdered in Houston last year, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant who had been repeatedly deported.

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The elder Golvach places the blame for his son’s murder on the failure of Straus and other state leaders to require local communities to “filter out” undocumented immigrants with criminal records.

Bexar County Sheriff Susan Pamerleau swiftly condemned Judson’s email.

"Using a grieving father to accuse Joe Straus of a horrific murder committed by a career criminal is deplorable and irresponsible,” Pamerleau said in a Thursday statement. “No one has done more to secure the border than Joe Straus."

During the campaign, Judson has accused Straus of killing “God-honoring conservative legislation” and letting down members of the party’s base.

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Straus has not responded to Judson’s latest attack, but in a Tuesday interview with Express-News reporter John W. Gonzalez, the speaker said: “I hear the attacks. I understand what’s going on, but it’s the same puppeteers, controlled by the same people time and time again. My constituents can see it, too.”

Straus added: “Hollow charges and mudslinging is easy. But I think most people won’t believe it.”

ggarcia@express-news.net

Twitter: @gilgamesh470