This story has been updated throughout to include more information on the University's report.
UT officials released redacted messages allegedly sent by state Sen. Charles Schwertner to a UT graduate student.
The redacted messages were released Tuesday and include direct messages from LinkedIn and personal texts. Along with the messages, UT also shared an investigative report regarding the messages, many of which are sexual in nature. However, the report said the “available evidence does not support” any conclusion that the senator, a Republican from Georgetown, violated University policy or federal Title IX law.
According to the report, Schwertner as well as an unidentified third party had access to the modes of communication used to contact the graduate student, preventing investigators from being able to prove that the senator was the sole individual behind the messages.
Schwertner, in a statement to the Texas Tribune, said the University closed their investigation as further proof he was not the person who sent the sexts to the student.
"I do not condone sexual misconduct of any kind," he said in the statement. "I appreciate the steadfast support of my family, friends and the voters who believed in and re-elected me just weeks ago. This unfortunate matter is now closed."
The messages include a person claiming to be “Charles” saying, “Sorry. I really just wanted to f— you,” to the graduate student.
The interactions, first reported by the Dallas Morning News, appear to be professional when they first began in May this year. On Aug. 28, it appears that Schwertner asked the student for her cell phone number and invited her to attend a committee meeting. The student shared her cell phone number and accepted the invitation.
That same day, Schwertner appears to have messaged the student on LinkedIn, “Hope you’re getting my texts I send you.” The student responded asking him to stop sending inappropriate texts.
In the text messages released by UT, the phone number identified as “Charles” sends photos, which were redacted, and inappropriate messages such as “Send a pic?” and “I’ll send you one.”
The Austin American-Statesman previously reported Schwertner was accused of sending photos of his genitals in the shower.
The person claiming to be “Charles” offers to send proof to the graduate student that they are who they say they are.
The Morning News reported that Schwertner’s attorneys did not comment when contacted.
When reached out for comment regarding the investigation in September, UT spokesman Gary Susswein said the University does not discuss ongoing investigations.
“These documents were released in response to open records requests and the University has no additional comment,” University spokesman J.B. Bird said Tuesday upon request for comment regarding the release of redacted messages and investigative report.
The University began investigating Schwertner in September.