https://abc13.com/post/fort-bend-county-judge-kp-georges-money-laundering-trial-begins/18700294/

RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) -- Fort Bend County Judge KP George said he's ready for vindication as a felony trial against him gets underway.

JUDGE KP GEORGE'S FELONY TRIAL GETS UNDERWAY

On Tuesday, Judge KP George appeared in the Fort Bend County Judiciary Center to face felony charges. No testimony took place.

Instead, the defense team said 70 potential jurors were brought in. They never went into the courtroom.

They stayed in the jury assembly area. They filled out a questionnaire and left.

That changes starting on Wednesday when both sides question jurors in the courtroom, and the prosecutor's testimony begins on Thursday.

George said this is what he's been waiting for.

"I did nothing wrong," George said. "Nothing wrong. I will be vindicated. A due process we already started, and we will wait and see."

Prosecutors said he used campaign funds for a house payment and property taxes. These are the charges that the District Attorney's office has been waiting to prove in court.

"Finally, all of the trying the case in the media on camera in the hallway is over," Fort Bend County DA spokesperson Wesley Witting said. "We're going to be able to present this case to 12 jurors and get a guilty. No question about it."

Legal experts said the trial got off to a rare start by asking potential jurors to fill out a questionnaire.

"They really want to find out what people know ahead of time so they can prescreen, otherwise jury selection could take weeks," legal expert Steve Shellist explained.

Both sides will narrow down the pool of 70 to 12 jurors and a couple of alternatives starting on Wednesday.

COULD A PLEA DEAL BE IN THE WORKS?

With the trial starting, ABC13 approached both sides to see if they're considering a plea deal. George's defense team told us that's not their priority.

"We're trying this case tomorrow, and we're going to prove his innocence," defense attorney Jared Woodfill said. The DA's office said it's also focused on the trial, and a plea deal isn't being worked on.

"Not that this time," Wittig said. Legal experts said it's not a surprise.

Shellist, who's not affiliated with this case, said he's worked with other public figures in the past. He said sometimes they don't think clearly and charge ahead at all costs to defend themselves.

"I'm not saying that's what's happening with Judge George, but that could come into play where he says, 'I don't want a deal because any deal that I take will send a message that I'm guilty, and I don't want to send that message. My reputation is too important,'" Shellist said.

THIS ISN'T THE ONLY TRIAL GEORGE FACES

George also faces charges connected to an online fake racism post case. That trial is scheduled to start in two months.

You might remember that, before George's first re-election, he shared messages claiming he was the victim of racist comments. Prosecutors said George's chief of staff, Tarel Patel, was behind the messages.

Last year, Patel pleaded guilty. Although the felony case isn't about those posts, court records show Patel is a potential witness in the money laundering case.

If convicted in the money laundering trial, George faces 10 years behind bars and would be removed from office.

GEORGE REACTS TO HIS PRIMARY DEFEAT

Tuesday was also the first time we've heard from George since he finished last in the Republican primary for his current job.

"That's not what I expected," George said. "You know that people spoke and people are the absolute authority. I respect it, and I move on."

Although he lost, his term runs until the end of the year. That's, of course, if he isn't convicted and removed from office.

If that happens, that would leave a split commissioners court with two Republicans and two Democrats.