Trial date set in bribery case of former aide to ag commissioner

A former top aide to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of soliciting bribes from farmers in exchange for state licenses to grow hemp.

At a court hearing, the state said it had offered Todd Smith, a longtime political adviser to Miller, a plea deal that included a four-year deferred sentence, $50,000 in restitution payments and 200 hours of community service. Smith, who has maintained his innocence for years, did not accept.

State prosecutors said Tuesday that Smith has until the end of March to change his mind, but Travis County district Judge Dayna Blazey set an initial trial date for Aug. 5.

Outside the courtroom, Smith declined to discuss specifics of the case.

Smith was indicted more than two years ago on charges of theft and commercial bribery. Although court records say Smith worked for Miller at the time, the third-term Republican is not accused of wrongdoing in the case.

An investigation by the Texas Rangers focused on Smith’s dealings with hemp licenses. Under Texas law, the permits are supposed to cost $100 and are available to any qualified applicant.

According to the indictment and arrest warrant affidavit, Smith and his associates told interested farmers they could procure their licenses in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars that would be used to conduct surveys and fund campaigns.

After his initial arrest in April 2021, Smith continued to work for Miller as his political consultant. The two parted ways in early 2022 following Smith’s indictment. At the time, Miller described the split as “mutual.”

On Tuesday, Miller said in a phone call that he was interviewed by the Texas Rangers last year but other than that remains uninvolved.

He described the case against Smith as a “witch hunt” and said he was glad to hear it would go to trial so Smith could prove his innocence.

“I know he didn’t try to sell any hemp licenses. He never did do that. He’s innocent, plain and simple,” Miller said Tuesday, adding: “Nothing wrong with raising campaign money anyway. That’s not an indictable offense.”

Miller has long supported Smith in the case, previously noting that state law sets the cost of hemp licenses at $100, so “only an idiot would pay someone $25,000” for one.

When Miller ran for reelection two years ago, his Republican and Democratic challengers tried to make the case that Smith’s indictment fit into a pattern of unethical behavior throughout Miller’s career.

Despite the criticism, Miller won his March and November elections handily.