Round Rock Lawyer Quits After Controversial Tweet Aimed At Education Secretary DeVos

ROUND ROCK, TX — An attorney from Round Rock resigned on Monday after posting a controversial tweet aimed at Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' efforts to overturn Obama-era guidelines designed to crack down on sexual assault at college campuses.

“I’m not wishing for it," a tweet by Robert Ranco, a partner at the Carlson Law Firm, began. "But I’d be ok if #BetsyDevos was sexually assaulted. #SexualAssault #TitleIX.”

Title IX is a federal law prohibiting discrimination based on sex for schools and programs receiving federal funding, including protection from sexual harassment. DeVos contends that, as written, the guidelines protecting victims of sexual assault denies due process to those accused of sexual assault. Education Secretary DeVos made public her plans to overturn the Obama-era guidelines last Thursday.

Posted on Friday, Ranco's tweet in response to that policy revamping created a social media firestorm well beyond the boundaries of Round Rock. The tweet was also condemned by right-leaning national publications— including the Washington Times and Breitbart—before Ranco locked and then deleted his account.

But many made screenshots of the original tweet, leading to a showdown with Ranco's boss, Craig Carlson who is the managing partner at the law firm. By Monday, Ranco was forced to resign over his reflexive tweeting.

“I considered the health of everyone in our organization, promised my partners and my employees that we would act according to the values of our firm, and sat down to speak with Mr. Ranco,” Carlson said in a prepared statement, as reported by the Round Rock Leader.

Carlson noted more than 75 percent of the law firm's employees are women, adding that any staff member's “...advocating or even expressing apathy towards sexual assault” is considered unacceptable, his statement read. “As a man of faith, believer in forgiveness, and longtime friend, it is my sincere hope that Rob with learn from this experience and go on to have a very successful career,” Carlson said in conclusion, as reported by the Leader.

This isn't the first time Ranco has made headlines. In June, reports surfaced of his complaints to Georgetown ISD officials contending that no action was taken to discipline students hurling racial epithets at his 12-year-old daughter at Tippit Middle School. At the time, Patch reached out to Georgetown ISD officials, who provided a prepared statement on the matter.

"You may have seen reports in the media about some disparaging comments and behavior made by a few students at Tippit Middle School," Georgetown ISD officials wrote in a prepared statement to Patch. "Due to federal and state laws protecting the privacy of the students and families involved, we are not able to respond to the details of the situation referenced. It’s unfortunate that people have formed judgments without having all of the facts; however, you can be assured that this issue was thoroughly and properly addressed."

The Georgetown ISD statement sent to Patch continued: "The behavior of the students involved in these incidents was inappropriate and unacceptable. Once it was reported, the campus principal responded swiftly and, after a full investigation, all students found to be involved were appropriately disciplined according to our Student Code of Conduct.

"To make very clear that discriminatory conduct is not tolerated, in addition to other disciplinary measures, students involved were counseled regarding their behavior, were required to complete relevant No Place for Hate lessons, and they completed community service. It's important that all students understand there are consequences for their words and actions, and we hope that they learn from their mistakes."

For his part, Ranco never returned a request for comment from Patch seeking more details about his accusation against the school district. According to the State Bar of Texas, Ranco is a personal injury attorney who earned a law degree from the University Of Maine in 2001.

According to information found on the Carlson Law Firm website, the company operates a dozen offices from Killeen to San Antonio to Waco, including one office each in North Austin and South Austin along with the Round Rock location.

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