Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller signed a dress code memo demanding that employees dress “in a manner consistent with their biological gender.” Credit: Texas Department of Agriculture
No one’s ever accused Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller of keeping it classy.

In his latest audacious escapade, Miller — a Republican whose tenure has been marked with controversies ranging from calling Hillary Clinton a “cunt” to using taxpayer cash to fund personal trips — rehired longtime pal and aide Todd Smith despite Smith pleading guilty to felony bribery charges, the Express-News reports.

In case anyone needs a refresher, Smith pled guilty last fall to allegations that, while working as Miller’s aide, had prompted Texas farmers to pony up $55,000 in payments to secure “exclusive” licenses to grow hemp in the state, arrest records show. A hemp license from Miller’s Agriculture Department actually costs $100, according to Smith’s warrant.

At the time, Smith said he took the plea deal “because I am guilty and for no other reason,” according to the Express-News. Of course, it probably didn’t hurt that he was able to avoid a second charge of theft and facing trial, the Texas Tribune reports.

To hear Miller’s explanation for why he hired Smith back at a $218,581 salary, it was all the fault of Jewish liberal boogeyman George Soros that his buddy got hauled in front of the court in the first place, the Express-News reports.

“He wasn’t guilty. He plead out because he was facing a George Soros judge and a George Soros district attorney and a Democrat jury in Travis County,” Miller told the daily. “They basically slapped him on his wrist and sent him along his way. It’s the same thing they did to Trump, weaponization by the Democrats.”

Not surprisingly, Travis County District José Garza’s office, which prosecuted the case, had a different take.

“It is not surprising but disappointing that Mr. Miller is keeping a person who swore under oath that he is guilty of a felony on his team,” Garza’s office told the Express-News in a statement. “Our office is thankful to our Public Integrity Unit and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold the defendant accountable and protect the integrity of our political system in Texas.”

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This article appears in Jan 22 – Feb 4, 2025.

Sanford Nowlin is editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current. He holds degrees from Trinity University and the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his work has been featured in Salon, Alternet, Creative...