Harris County Health Director Charged, Wanted for Arrest

Barbie Robinson, former chief of Harris County Public Health, has been charged with felony misuse of official information for allegedly sharing confidential details of a $16 million contract with IBM before it was awarded. The contract, meant for the ACCESS program to aid vulnerable communities, was approved in 2022, but Robinson's prior communications with IBM officials surfaced during investigations. Her actions reportedly aimed at favoring IBM in the bidding process, as she had a history of working with the company on similar projects in Sonoma County, California. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced the charges, sparking controversy and criticism from local officials who accused Ogg of using her office for political purposes. Robinson is currently wanted for arrest, with county officials calling for a thorough audit of the health department's operations and contracts.