1/ This is the story of how local Texas politicians helped a serial entrepreneur use COVID-19 to boost his business by attempting to sell telehealth and COVID-19 services across Texas.
Our latest with @ProPublica. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
2/ During the early days of the pandemic, it wasn’t uncommon for companies to pitch their services to government officials.
What is far more unusual was for public officials to become part of the marketing effort. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
3/ Before COVID-19, Kyle Hayungs pitched his telemedicine services to public officials in Hays County.
Some commissioners and county employees were confused about what exactly Hayungs wanted to sell them.
But that wasn’t the end of Hayungs’ involvement in Hays County.
4/ Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra and his chief of staff, Alex Villalobos, helped Kyle Hayungs with official proposals — before and after the pandemic. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
5/ During the pandemic, the two helped edit and provide marketing materials, and the judge tried to convince local mayors to buy test kits from a company Kyle Hayungs was hoping to partner with. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
6/ The two continued to work with Hayungs even after his company falsely claimed to be the "FEMA designated COVID-19 response team for Hays County." bit.ly/2RVnyYe
7/ Meanwhile, Tommy Calvert, a Bexar County commissioner who urged his peers to purchase thousands of the same antibody tests, did not disclose that he once held an unpaid position on the advisory board of Kyle Hayungs’ company. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
8/ The Hays County judge would push other officials to purchase the antibody tests, even though EMS directors in the county declared them unnecessary.
Oxford University scientists would declare the antibody tests unreliable. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
9/ All the while, Kyle Hayungs left a trail of misleading or false claims.
His marketing efforts included a document apparently produced by the Hays County judge that claimed to give an emergency use authorization to use coronavirus tests.
That’s something only the FDA can do.
10/ Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra has not responded to multiple requests for an interview.
In a statement sent through a spokesman, Becerra said Hayungs "has turned out to be a serial exaggerator and self promoter." bit.ly/2RVnyYe
11/ Tommy Calvert, the Bexar County commissioner, said through an attorney that there was no conflict of interest and that he was not required by law to disclose his previous unpaid position.
He hasn’t fulfilled open records requests from us for any communication with Hayungs.
12/ Alex Villalobos, the Hays County chief of staff, alleged in a statement that Republicans were blocking access to COVID-19 tests. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
13/ In an interview, Kyle Hayungs said he has no personal relationship with the judge or the commissioner.
“We’re doing nothing but good. I’m open to showing my financial records and everything.”
He later declined to share his financial records. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
14/14 Read our full story with @ProPublica here. bit.ly/2RVnyYe
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