Harris Co. Judge Lina Hidalgo's quest for video to support rodeo manhandling claim turns up empty
By Luke Jones
KTRK
Mar 12, 2026
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Only ABC13 was there when Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo arrived at NRG Stadium for the first time since being booted from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Tuesday night.
Hidalgo went to the stadium to review surveillance footage that she hoped would support her claim that she was manhandled by rodeo staff, which rodeo officials strongly deny.
An hour after arriving for the closed-door session, Hidalgo emerged from the stadium, but without the vindication she was seeking.
Just one camera showed the chute Hidalgo said she was standing in when the alleged altercation took place, and it was positioned at a distance.
"I mean, you can't really make things out because it's very dark and it's from a distance, so when you zoom in, it's just really grainy," said Hidalgo.
Other footage Eyewitness News reviewed but wasn't provided shows Hidalgo entering the chute, leaving with her guests, and then talking with multiple rodeo staffers and officials.
Hidalgo and her five guests were initially seated in the county suite on Tuesday, which the rodeo confirmed they were allowed to.
The rodeo said Hidalgo had previously requested and been granted almost $9,000 in floor access tickets for use over three nights, but that she was told she wouldn't be granted floor access on Tuesday.
Hidalgo confirmed a staffer had relayed the message, but said she decided to try her luck in case there were extra floor seats available when she got there.
However, when she tried to access the floor, which the rodeo said was reserved for $425 ticketholders, the rodeo said she was denied and told to return to the county suite before being asked to leave the rodeo altogether.
Hidalgo initially requested surveillance footage on Wednesday. She said it was delivered to her office on Thursday afternoon, but when she couldn't see the altercation she claims took place, she requested to view additional footage at NRG Stadium.
After reviewing the footage, Hidalgo expressed dismay that there were no cameras inside the chute and suggested the stadium install some.
"I hope they do that so we can make sure a situation like this doesn't happen again," she said.
It's unlikely to happen again -- at least not with Hidalgo. Earlier in the day, the rodeo's executive committee voted to strip her of her ex-officio director title, and Hidalgo said Wednesday she has no plans to attend future rodeo shows.
"I think at this point we've done all we can do, and I hope that we can move forward from this or I sure - I sure plan to," said Hidalgo.
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