When Dan Branch Lied to my Face

"May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks proud things,"
Psalms 12:3

Bombshell news from Breitbart Texas this morning:

Representative Branch was appointed chairman of the House Higher Education Committee by House Speaker Joe Straus on February 12, 2009, according to the Speaker’s press release. On that same day, Rep. Branch issued his own press release acknowledging the appointment as chairman of the committee. One week later, Chairman Branch allegedly sent a letter dated February 19, 2009, to the University of Texas President, William C. Powers, Jr. on behalf of a student seeking admission to the university for the Fall 2009 semester. A photograph of a screen image of the letter can be seen below. The letter is redacted to protect the private information of the student involved in the letter.

The letter, purportedly signed by Branch, stated, “I would encourage your admissions team to please give him [the student] serious consideration in their selection process. If I can be of any assistance, please contact me.”

But it gets better, because at an event two weeks ago, this happened:

During an interview on the Texas Tribune’s TRIBLIVE on May 8th, Branch was asked by a member of the audience, “Representative Branch, in your position on the Higher Ed Committee, have you ever exerted influence behind the scenes to get someone into UT or UT Law School?” Branch responded firmly, “I have not.”

What the Brietbart reports fails to mention is that your humble correspondent was the audience member who asked the question.  Looking back on the incident today, after this new information emerged, we're struck by the Branch's body language answering the question.  He looked us dead in the eye...and lied.

Keep it classy Dan Branch....