SAN ANTONIO – Corpus Christi attorney Thomas J. Henry reiterated in San Antonio Tuesday that it is his concern about the lack of prosecution of child abuse cases in Bexar County that led him to contribute $700,000 to Democrat Nico LaHood's campaign for district attorney against the incumbent, Republican Susan Reed.
Recommended Videos
Henry announced at a news conference at the Hotel Eilan on the city's Northwest Side that this was not simply a campaign contribution.
"When I'm asked why I'm involved in a campaign, I need to let you know (that) to me, it's a cause," Henry said.
With the aid of charts and graphs, he again stated that his interest in LaHood's candidacy came about because of what he called a failure of Reed to do enough to put child abusers in jail.
"We compare Bexar County to much larger counties and areas and you have the highest child abuse rate in Texas," Henry said.
He said his family is moving to San Antonio and he wants to make the community better. He said he is also contributing money to a nonprofit group for teacher training on recognizing child abuse.
"(To) this particular nonprofit, I've provided a $350,000 grant," Henry said.
Reed is not convinced Henry is just doing this for the children. She said she is not buying his argument that he's not trying to buy the DA's office.
"They have blown this into some epidemic, as they like to put it, that supposedly I'm personally responsible for," Reed said.
She said she thinks Henry has other motives for making such a big splash in San Antonio.
"I think he's trying to come in to San Antonio in a big way and make a big name for himself," Reed said. "He likes to show himself in his Learjet and his Rolls Royce. I believe he's using it to establish his name and to buy this office."
One thing that is clear is that San Antonio will hear much more about Nico LaHood over the next month. Henry also said he will be donating more to LaHood's campaign in the coming month.
LaHood had no part in Tuesday's news conference but said he appreciated that Henry came to San Antonio to answer questions about his big donation.