A Texas court has temporarily blocked a controversial campaign by social media influencer Malcolm Tanner to offer free homes to black Americans in Loving County, Texas, citing public health violations and alleged attempts to unlawfully influence local elections.
The court order comes after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit accusing Tanner of launching an “illegal and deceptive political sham” in the sparsely populated county, which had only 64 residents as of 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Tanner, who calls himself the leader of the Melanated People of Power, had promoted his plan on social media for months, inviting followers to move to Loving County, receive free housing, and help “take over the county” in time for the 2026 elections.
“The show is over,” said Paxton in a statement after the ruling. “Malcolm Tanner is a two-bit charlatan attempting to defraud people out of their money with false promises of free homes and unlawful government payouts. Texas is for Texans, not out-of-state grifters trying to steal political power from the people who live here.”
Court Halts Housing Plan
The court’s injunction, effective through November 1, bars Tanner from allowing anyone to live at two properties he owns in Loving County while the lawsuit proceeds. The judge’s reasoning focused strictly on public health violations, not political motivations.
According to Paxton’s filing, Tanner’s properties lack sewage systems or septic tanks, running water, electrical infrastructure, relying instead on gas-powered generators, and proper waste disposal, using an open burn pit.
Photos included in the lawsuit reportedly show tents, RVs, and camper vans used as dwellings, alongside the alleged burn pit.
A Political Agenda?
Tanner’s efforts go beyond providing shelter. In posts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, he vowed to flip Loving County politically by 2026, claiming he would elect allies—including his own daughter—to local government roles.
He also said he plans to run for president in 2028, promising, if elected, to issue an executive order giving black Americans $5,000 per month in reparations for “the damages caused by Democrats and Republicans.”
Critics argue that Tanner’s plan to flood the county with new residents was less about “community-building” and more about executing a coordinated political takeover—one that violates election laws and exploits vulnerable individuals.
Tanner’s Response: “Justice Must Be Proved”
In a Facebook post, Tanner said he would comply with the court order, but claimed he and his followers were being unfairly targeted.
“We are preserving every shred of evidence — every act of destruction, every trespass, every intimidation,” Tanner wrote. “It will be laid before the Court, and, if necessary, before the proper authorities, because justice must not only be sought — it must be proved.”
He posted a photo of what appeared to be debris from a damaged home, asserting that his vision for building a new community had been “attacked.”
“I came to Loving County with a simple vision: to build homes, to build community, and to live under the rights that faith grants and the Constitution protects,” Tanner said. “Instead, what we built was destroyed.”
Allegations of Deception and Threats
The attorney general’s office alleges that Tanner engaged in deceptive trade practices, offering people free homes or rent-free housing, only to later charge them. It also claims that some of his allies made threats against local oil workers and law enforcement officers.
“The Property is also used as a meeting place for Tanner and his co-conspirators to plan organized criminal activity,” Paxton’s lawsuit alleges.
However, the court has not yet ruled on these more serious criminal accusations. So far, the temporary injunction only addresses the public health violations.
Political Showdown in Tiny Texas County
Loving County, located in West Texas, is the least populous county in the U.S., yet it’s now at the center of a high-profile political and legal battle over voter influence, property rights, and race-based activism.
Paxton, who is running for reelection in 2026, has framed the case as a stand against outsider manipulation and a defense of Texas values.
Tanner, meanwhile, has doubled down on his narrative, casting himself as a civil rights pioneer facing modern persecution.
“History will record this struggle,” Tanner said. “And when it does, let it be said that in Loving County, in the year 2025… we did not bow, we did not run, and we did not give up.”
What Comes Next?
The court will revisit the case after November 1, when it could issue a permanent injunction, dismiss Paxton’s lawsuit, or address additional legal claims including potential fraud, voter interference, and criminal conspiracy.
For now, Tanner’s housing initiative is on hold, and the fight over the future of Loving County’s political identity remains unresolved.
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