Texas congressional candidate Bobby Pulido is facing criticism after reports revealed that a former member of his touring band was a registered sex offender convicted of a crime involving a child.
Pulido, a Tejano music star and the Democratic nominee for Texas’ 15th Congressional District, has come under scrutiny over his past professional relationship with accordion player Frankie Caballero.
The controversy emerged after reports detailed Caballero’s criminal conviction and his continued appearances alongside Pulido following his release from prison.
According to public records cited in multiple reports, Caballero was convicted in 2014 of indecent contact with an 8-year-old girl.
The offense was classified as a second-degree felony under Texas law.
Caballero served approximately four years in prison and was later required to register as a sex offender.
Reports indicated that videos, photographs and social media posts showed Caballero performing with Pulido between 2018 and 2021.
Those appearances reportedly took place in several cities, including Las Vegas, Kansas City, Minneapolis and Tucson.
Pulido’s campaign has denied that the candidate knowingly employed or associated with a registered sex offender.
Campaign manager Abel Prado said Pulido was unaware of Caballero’s criminal history during the period in question.
“Frankie Caballero has long struggled with addiction issues and Bobby Pulido has acknowledged and attempted to help him with that battle,” Prado said in a statement.
Prado added that Caballero was immediately removed from Pulido’s organization after management learned of his conviction in 2021.
The issue has quickly become a point of contention in one of Texas’ most closely watched congressional races.
Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-CA), who currently represents the district, criticized Pulido following publication of the reports, as Trending Politics reported.
“My heart goes out to the children who were sexually abused by a close friend and business associate of Bobby Pulido,” De La Cruz wrote in a social media post.
Critics have questioned whether Pulido could have remained unaware of Caballero’s criminal record given the length of their professional association.
Some individuals familiar with the South Texas Tejano music industry told reporters that Caballero’s conviction was widely known within music circles.
Former musician and journalist Ramon Rodriguez said performers with national touring operations generally know the backgrounds of individuals who regularly travel and perform with them.
“This really raises some concerns about Bobby’s judgment,” Rodriguez told the New York Post.
“You get to a certain point in music where they vet everybody around you,” he added.
Rodriguez also described the Tejano music community as a close-knit industry where information about major developments often becomes widely known.
Pulido has rejected criticism surrounding the issue and maintains that political opponents are attempting to use aspects of his music career against him.
Democrats view Pulido as a competitive challenger because of his popularity in South Texas and name recognition among Hispanic voters.
Republicans have spent months highlighting elements of Pulido’s entertainment career and public record as they seek to hold the district.
The controversy is expected to remain a major issue as the campaign continues ahead of the general election.
Court records detailing the underlying offense remain limited because the victim was a minor, though information regarding the conviction and sex offender registration status is publicly available through Texas authorities.
