While the rally-turned-insurrection during the March for Trump event resulted in several arrests and even more public firings, the Texas Real Estate Commission issued a statement this afternoon saying that while they’ve received numerous reports about licensees participating in felonious and seditious acts, the commission’s hands are tied.
As the statement outlines, “the Commission may suspend or revoke a license holder that is convicted of a felony or a criminal offense involving fraud,” however, “generally, this authority is limited to conduct the license holder undertakes while engaged in real estate brokerage.
Jenna Ryan, a Frisco broker that gave Daltxrealestate.com an interview as she was on layover headed back from the ill-fated events at the Capitol, was just one Texas real estate professional that is under fire after filming themselves while trespassing on the grounds of the houses of Congress. Ryan was one of five North Texas real estate professionals that chartered a private jet to the rally.
Five people died from injuries sustained during the insurrection, including Ashli Babbit, a retired Air Force veteran from California who shot to death by Secret Service officers. Three more civilians died during the violence. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who was beaten by rioters with a fire extinguisher, died from his injuries later.
Here’s the full statement from TREC:
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) has received many comments and requests related to license holders’ involvement in the events that occurred at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Commission is limited in the action it may take against real estate license holders by the Real Estate License Act, the governing law that describes the Commission’s jurisdiction. For instance, the Commission may suspend or revoke a license holder that is convicted of a felony or a criminal offense involving fraud.
While the Commission has the authority to suspend or revoke a license in other circumstances, generally, this authority is limited to conduct the license holder undertakes while engaged in real estate brokerage.
The Commission offers valuable resources to the public, including license holder search and disciplinary action search tools to verify information about a license holder they are working with. Additionally, the Commission has provided extensive FAQs related to qualifications, disclosing a crime to TREC, and other enforcement matters.
The Commission exists to protect consumers of real estate services in Texas. Through complaints, the Commission is able to enforce the Real Estate License Act. If you believe there has been a violation of the Real Estate License Act, please file a complaint with the Commission.
