Texas congressional candidate and Latin Grammy-winning musician Bobby Pulido is facing renewed scrutiny after a resurfaced 2019 interview appeared to reveal a deeper familiarity with the criminal history of longtime bandmate Frankie Caballero than his campaign had previously acknowledged.
The interview, conducted by comedian Jose Luis Zagar and posted to YouTube in May 2019, featured Pulido discussing Caballero’s musical talents while recalling past interactions with the accordion player, who was later convicted of indecent sexual contact with an 8-year-old girl.
During the conversation, Pulido praised Caballero’s abilities as a musician.
“He can do anything with the accordion,” Pulido said, describing him as a master of the instrument.
Pulido then recounted an incident from earlier in his career, saying he personally went to retrieve Caballero after he had been incarcerated.
“I remember when I started out, I went to get him out of jail,” Pulido said, according to a translation cited in the report.
The interview did not specify which arrest or criminal charge Pulido was referencing. Translators noted that the term used could refer either to jail, prison, or a colloquial equivalent. As a result, it remains unclear whether Pulido was referring to one of Caballero’s earlier arrests or a later incarceration.
The resurfaced remarks have intensified attention on Pulido’s long association with Caballero as the Democrat seeks to unseat Republican incumbent Monica De La Cruz in Texas’ 15th Congressional District.
Court records cited in the report show that Caballero was arrested multiple times between 1990 and 2000 and was released on various forms of bond. In 2014, he was sentenced to four years in prison for indecent sexual contact with a minor, a conviction that required him to register as a sex offender.
According to previous reporting referenced in the article, Caballero continued performing with Pulido following his release from prison.
The issue has attracted national media attention, with several major outlets referencing the controversy in coverage of Pulido’s public appearances and campaign.
Pulido’s campaign has maintained that the singer’s comments were intended to describe giving Caballero opportunities to perform rather than assisting him financially.
A campaign spokesperson stated that Pulido did not post Caballero’s bail and declined to clarify whether the musician had picked him up from jail or prison.
The spokesperson also dismissed criticism surrounding the issue, characterizing it as a political attack designed to distract voters from policy concerns.
Additional records discussed in the report show that Pulido recruited Caballero to perform on his debut album, “Desvelado,” during the mid-1990s. At the time, Caballero was facing legal troubles, including a 1994 sex assault case that later resulted in a felony indictment.
According to court filings cited in the report, Caballero was released on a personal recognizance bond in that case, allowing him to remain free without posting cash bail while legal proceedings continued.
The charge was ultimately dismissed by county prosecutors in April 2000. Court records show that the dismissal request bore the name of then-Hidalgo County District Attorney Rene Guerra, who is Pulido’s great-uncle.
Guerra told reporters he could not recall the specifics of the case but said his office generally did not dismiss sexual assault cases absent significant concerns regarding the evidence.
Pulido’s campaign manager has stated that the candidate was never aware of Caballero’s sex offender registration, though he knew Caballero struggled with substance abuse issues over the years.
The controversy has placed renewed focus on Pulido’s long professional relationship with Caballero, a relationship that spanned decades and overlapped with multiple legal troubles involving the musician. As the congressional race continues, questions surrounding that association are likely to remain part of the broader political debate.
[READ MORE: Large ‘8647’ Marking Etched Into National Mall Grass Sparks Investigation Ahead of Major Event]
