Bobby Pulido, a Democrat and Grammy-award-winning musician performed at a middle school alongside a convicted sex offender bandmate.

Pulido’s close relationship with embattled accordionist Frankie Caballero is under increased scrutiny as his race for Congress heats up.

He is running against Texas Republican Monica De La Cruz in a crucial neck-and-neck race for control of the House of Representatives. Democrats only need to flip four seats to seize the majority.

The Democrat’s appearances with Caballero occurred both before and after he served a four-year sentence for indecent sexual contact with an eight-year-old girl from 2014-2017, the New York Post first reported.

In May 2018, one year after Caballero was released from prison and placed on Texas’ Public Sex Offender Website, Pulido boasted of recruiting Caballero to his band.

Days later, the Tejano singer played with Caballero at a benefit concert for a Texas middle school. Children were present at the concert held at the Richard R Flores Stadium, according to a report from Axios. 

The Daily Mail had previously reported on Pulido’s partnership with Caballero, but the middle school show was unknown until this week.

Caballero reportedly played with Pulido as long ago as the 1990s, when the accordionist faced other charges for sexual assault that were eventually dismissed.

He continued to be featured in Pulido’s shows from time to time until 2021.

Bobby Pulido at a press conference at a Mexican music festival in March

Pulido performing in Mexico City in 2024

His campaign manager, Abel Prado, previously told the Daily Mail in a statement: ‘Bobby extends his deepest sympathies and support to all of the victims involved.

‘Bobby was never made aware of Caballero’s sex offender registration and would never knowingly associate with anyone with that kind of history.’

But Pulido’s campaign has indicated that the singer was aware of some of his accordionist’s problems, acknowledging a struggle with ‘addiction.’

‘When Jimmy Montez management learned of Caballero’s criminal history in 2021 he was immediately fired and that relationship was severed.’ 

The Pulido campaign did not respond to the Daily Mail’s requests for comment about the school concert gig.

A spokesperson told Axios that Republicans planted the ‘nothing story’ and that Pulido is a ‘public figure who has been an open book for over 30 years.’

Comments from a 2019 podcast interview indicate that Pulido knew about his fellow musician’s brushes with the law. 

‘He can do anything with the accordion,’ Pulido said. ‘But get this, they locked him up. I remember when I started out, I went to get him out of jail.’

Frankie Caballero performed with Pulido for years after his conviction for a sex crime

It was not clear what timeframe Pulido had in mind or what alleged crime Caballero may have been jailed for.

In a separate podcast interview in 2024, Pulido again spoke of Caballero.

‘It’s a shame,’ he said, shaking his head, ‘how good of an accordion player he is, and just can’t stay out of trouble.’

‘He’s the best accordion player I’ve ever heard. Hands down,’ Pulido added. 

Caballero has had many other reported brushes with the law over the years. 

He pleaded guilty to ‘impeding’ his daughter’s ‘normal breathing’ in 2021, according to court documents seen by Axios.

The outlet reported that he was charged in 1994 for sexual assault, which was dismissed in 2000. 

Caballero did not respond to Axios.