AUSTIN, Texas _ The University of Texas has released redacted messages allegedly sent by state Sen. Charles Schwertner to a graduate student, almost three months after the Republican was first accused of engaging in the sexually explicit harassment.
The messages begin May 3 with a polite and professional back and forth on a LinkedIn account, belonging to a Charles Schwertner MD, and an unnamed student, discussing the student's desire to work in health care and politics. Schwertner is a surgeon.
The documents were released in response to a public records request filed by The Dallas Morning News.
On Aug. 28, Schwertner, of Georgetown, appears to ask the student via LinkedIn message for her cellphone number at 2:20 p.m. and then at 3:59 p.m. he mentions her attending a committee meeting, inviting her to sit in the audience.
The student responds with her cellphone number, which is redacted, and thanks him for connecting her to his staff members and accepts his invitation to sit in the audience. The student provides emails from Schwertner's chief of staff Drew Graham and another senate staff member following up on his offer to attend a committee hearing.
At 6:20 p.m. that same day in the LinkedIn message, Schwertner appears to say, "Hope you're getting my texts I sent you."
The student responds, "Please stop the inappropriate texts, it is unprofessional."
Separately, the university released text messages provided by the student from a person claiming to be "Charles." The texts are not dated, but make reference to the committee hearing. They are from a phone number that is not Schwertner's known cellphone. But the texts make reference to having a second cellphone.
The university also released a photograph of Schwertner's legislative business card, where the cellphone number used for the texts is written in by hand.
"Sorry. I really just wanted to f--- you," the string of texts begins.
"If you'd like to still sit in the audience then by all means come," the text said referencing the LinkedIn conversation.
"This is Charles"
"Send a pic?"
"I'll send you one"
"Hello? Want to just use LinkedIn? Or my main cell?"
"It's me want me to prove?"
"And I have more proof of life ;)"
The photos are redacted.
The student wrote in the text, "Please stop, this is unprofessional. I'm a student interested in learning about Healthcare Policy. These advances are unwanted."
Schwertner's attorneys did not immediately comment when contacted, but have emphatically denied that Schwertner sent the messages.
In September, the Austin American-Statesman broke the news that Schwertner was being investigated by the University of Texas, after a student complained he sent lewd text messages including apparent photos of his genitals.
Schwertner won re-election to his Senate seat on Nov. 6.
