- Congressional Candidate Mayra Flores recently appeared on a podcast hosted by a man with a lengthy criminal history who admitted to being a pimp in a 2023 court proceeding
- During the interview, Mayra Flores attacked her GOP Primary opponent, Eric Flores, over his past work as a Federal prosecutor
- Another podcaster supporting Mayra Flores once faced criminal charges arising out of allegations that he sent an explicit photo to a woman
Congressional Candidate Mayra Flores recently appeared on a podcast where she discussed her views on law-and-order issues and attacked her opponent’s experience as a Federal prosecutor – but did not mention that the host of the podcast is an admitted pimp with a lengthy record of legal entanglements.
Flores, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the Congressional District 34 seat currently held by Democrat Vicente Gonzalez, was a recent guest on the “Corpus Christi Cronica” podcast hosted by Eric Lee Tunchez.
During the hour-long interview, Flores attempted to establish her bona fides on law and order, discussing her views on border security and the need for “safe communities.” Flores also used the interview as a platform to attack her Republican Primary opponent, Eric Flores, a former Federal prosecutor, with Mayra Flores characterizing Eric Flores’s work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney as “a disgrace.” Mayra Flores and Tunchez omitted, however, any discussion of Tunchez’s numerous run-ins with the law.
In 2023, Tunchez judicially confessed to committing the criminal offense of promotion of prostitution – commonly known as pimping. The confession came as part of a deferred adjudication agreement, under which Tunchez was ordered to serve a year of probation and complete ten hours of community service.
“My attorney has investigated the facts and circumstances surrounding my case, discussed those with me, and advised me of possible defenses. I am satisfied with my attorney’s representation. I am pleading guilty to the offense of PROMOTE PROSTITUTION because I am guilty. My plea is freely, voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently given.
On this day in open Court, I, ERIC LEE TUNCHEZ, waive my right against self-incrimination and hereby judicially confess that on May 13, 2017, in Nueces County, Texas, I did then and there, acting other than as a prostitute receiving compensation for personally rendered prostitution services, knowingly receive money pursuant to an agreement with [name withheld] to participate in the proceeds of prostitution,” reads a document signed by Tunchez in the criminal proceeding against him.
Tunchez completed his term of probation arising out of the promotion of prostitution charge last year, and the charge was dismissed.
A criminal history report for Tunchez obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety showed several criminal charges against him.
In 2005, Tunchez was convicted on a charge of resisting arrest. In 2015, Tunchez was convicted of harboring a runaway child. In 2017, Tunchez was convicted of assault causing bodily injury. Additionally, media outlets in Corpus Christi have reported that Tunchez was arrested this May on five charges related to an alleged illegal gambling operation.
Mayra Flores has shared her interview with Tunchez on her campaign social media pages and has also used her social media to promote content from Tunchez’s publication on several other occasions.
While Mayra Flores uses her campaign to share a platform with and promote the work of a career criminal, Eric Flores has emphasized his personal dedication to public safety during his campaign. Among the cases prosecuted by Flores during his tenure as a Federal prosecutor are cases against defendants accused of possessing child sexual abuse material, human smuggling, conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, cocaine trafficking, and wire fraud.
Tunchez is not the only troubled podcaster who is promoting Mayra Flores’ campaign for Congress.
Frankie Olivo, a Brownsville-based podcaster who is a vocal supporter of Mayra Flores and a critic of Eric Flores, has faced his own legal issues. According to Juan Montoya, publisher of the Cameron County political blog “El Rrun Rrun”, Olivo was charged with stalking and harassment in 2018. Montoya reported that the charges arose out of allegations that Olivo sent a woman a sexually explicit photograph that caused her to feel “harassed, alarmed, abused, tormented, embarrassed, or offended” and that Olivo agreed to a pre-trial diversion agreement to resolve the criminal case against him.
Mayra Flores has interacted with Olivo’s Facebook posts on several occasions and has also shared his social media content on her campaign Facebook page. Adriana Flores – Mayra Flores’ sister, who is one of several family members paid by her campaign – often reacts to and comments on posts made by Olivo that are supportive of Mayra Flores or critical of her opponents.
