Barbie Robinson, the former chief of Harris County Public Health, is facing a third-degree felony charge for allegedly sharing confidential information about a $16 million contract with IBM to give the company an unfair advantage, according to court documents.
The contract, tied to the ACCESS Harris County program, aimed to provide services to vulnerable communities, including incarcerated individuals, the homeless, and at-risk families. ACCESS Harris County, funded by the county’s general fund, the Hope Grant, and the American Rescue Plan, has served approximately 1,200 people.
Court documents allege that Robinson, who previously developed a similar program in California’s Sonoma County, shared critical details with IBM almost a year before the contract was officially awarded. Emails reportedly show Robinson and IBM officials collaborating on aspects of the program, including job descriptions and proposal instructions, prior to the issuance of the formal Request for Proposal (RFP).
Investigators, including Texas Ranger Jonathon Christian, assert Robinson’s actions compromised the integrity of the competitive bidding process.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg highlighted concerns over the program’s cost and data privacy.
“For $30 million, it amounts to about $19,000 per person served by the program,” Ogg stated. She also raised questions about the extensive database created by IBM, which compiles sensitive information about individuals served by the county.
Robinson’s indictment has sparked political tensions. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo criticized Ogg on social media, accusing her of weaponizing the DA’s office. Hidalgo compared the case to prior allegations against her staffers related to an $11 million COVID-19 outreach contract, which she claims were baseless.
Ogg dismissed Hidalgo’s comments, stating, “Our cases aren’t based on opinions; they are based on evidence.”
Robinson faces a potential sentence of 2-10 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
A warrant for Robinson’s arrest has been issued, and the investigation remains ongoing.
