Harris County DA Teare Drops Charges Against Former Health Director for alleged Bid Rigging in multimillion dollar IBM Contract

In a significant move, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare has dismissed four felony charges against Barbie Robinson, the former executive director of Harris County Public Health, who was accused of orchestrating a bid-rigging scheme involving IBM and DEMA Management and Consulting. The decision, announced on May 2, 2025, follows an exhaustive review by Teare’s office, which determined there was insufficient evidence to sustain the allegations of public corruption.

Barbie Robinson served as the head of Harris County Public Health from March 2021 until her dismissal in August 2024. In November 2024, former DA Kim Ogg filed charges against her, alleging misuse of official information, tampering with a governmental record, and two counts of fraudulent securing of document execution. The accusations stemmed from a $30 million contract awarded to IBM for the ACCESS Harris program, a social safety net initiative Robinson had previously spearheaded in Sonoma County, California. A separate $16 million contract with DEMA further escalated the case.

Ogg’s office claimed Robinson manipulated the bidding process to favor IBM, pointing to emails between Robinson and IBM’s Kenneth Wolsey. The Texas Rangers’ investigation alleged she used personal email to discuss the contract and bypassed competitive bidding protocols, actions Ogg described as a betrayal of public trust.

Upon taking office on January 1, 2025, Teare prioritized reviewing high-profile cases, including Robinson’s, to ensure prosecutions were grounded in evidence and free from political bias. His team’s meticulous evaluation uncovered critical flaws in the case:

- There was no evidence that Robinson benefited financially or personally from the contracts.

- Transparency in Relationships: Robinson’s prior professional collaboration with IBM in Sonoma County was openly disclosed during Harris County’s bidding process.

- Insufficient Legal Grounds: The charges relied on speculative interpretations of the law, failing to meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.

In a statement, Teare emphasized the importance of integrity in corruption cases: “Public corruption undermines trust in governance and democratic principles. Prosecutions must be rigorous, impartial, and free from politics or conjecture. Our unbiased review found this case did not meet that standard.” He noted that pursuing the case would divert resources from more substantiated prosecutions, reaffirming his commitment to evidence-driven justice over “predetermined narratives.”

The case unfolded against a charged political backdrop. Ogg, who lost to Teare in the March 2024 Democratic primary, faced accusations of weaponizing her office to target political adversaries, including Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and her former aides, who were also charged in separate bid-rigging cases. Hidalgo, a vocal supporter of Robinson, condemned the charges as baseless and accused Ogg of retaliating against critics.

Teare’s dismissal of Robinson’s charges aligns with his campaign pledge to root out bias in the DA’s office. His recusal from the Hidalgo aides’ case—due to connections to a law firm representing one defendant and his endorsement by Hidalgo—further underscored his efforts to uphold impartiality.

Teare’s office is now collaborating with the Harris County Purchasing Department and Auditor’s Office to strengthen transparency in procurement processes. These reforms aim to prevent future controversies and ensure compliance with Texas bidding laws.

Robinson, who plans to sue Harris County for racial, gender, and age discrimination following her termination, has not publicly addressed the dismissal. Her attorney also declined to comment.

Teare’s handling of the Robinson case signals a shift toward evidence-based prosecutions and systemic reform in Harris County. By prioritizing fairness and addressing vulnerabilities in procurement, Teare aims to rebuild public confidence in the justice system. However, critics, including Ogg, warn that dismissing such cases could undermine accountability, fueling ongoing tensions in Harris County’s political landscape.

As Teare navigates these challenges, his commitment to impartiality and transparency will likely shape the county’s approach to corruption allegations for years to come.