An email sent under the name of Jeff Davis County Republican Party Chairman Jason “Jake” Knobloch contradicts claims published on a website attacking Big Bend Times publisher David Flash and ties Knobloch directly to the operation.
The site previously published statements asserting that it was not operated by Knobloch and instead attributed its authorship to an unnamed local resident. That claim came after Big Bend Times identified Knobloch and his political role in connection with the site.
However, an email reviewed by Big Bend Times shows Knobloch contacting a professional associate of Flash and attempting to generate material about him for publication.
“If anyone there has any statement about Flash that you would like to provide I promise to post them in full,” the email reads. “I’m happy to keep it anonymous for protect yall from David’s wrath.”
Flash said the email directly contradicts the site’s public denial.
“They said it wasn’t him,” Flash said. “Then he’s emailing people I know, from his own account, about the exact thing. That tells you what you need to know.”
Flash said the outreach is part of a broader pattern.
“He’s contacting people I know, calling people, emailing people, trying to get them to say negative things about me so he can publish it,” Flash said. “That’s not commentary — that’s a campaign.”
The email also references monitoring domain registrations connected to Flash and considering registering additional domains tied to his work.
“I noticed those 2 hadn’t been registered… and considered grabbing those when I got the others next to David’s domains,” the email states.
Flash said the behavior reflects a sustained focus on a single individual.
“This is someone who made it their mission to go after one person,” he said. “It’s not normal.”
The website has published repeated attacks on Flash, including personal insults, claims about his work, and statements about his family. It has also used screenshots and images taken from Big Bend Times, as well as a photograph shot by Flash and a graphic arrangement he created, without permission.
In addition, the site has attempted to involve a separate company where Flash works, encouraging readers to contact the business and suggesting — without evidence — that his reporting is part of a “guerrilla marketing campaign.”
Flash said that claim reflects a misunderstanding of what he built.
“There’s no logic there,” he said. “I built something to report on a region. It grew into something successful. That’s it.”
The activity comes as Flash is pursuing a federal civil rights lawsuit against Jeff Davis County and multiple officials, alleging violations tied to his reporting and treatment by local authorities.
Flash said he has been vindicated on the claims made against him and views the website and outreach as a continuation of efforts to discredit him.
“They tried to go after me one way,” he said. “That didn’t work. Now it looks like this.”
Flash said cease-and-desist letters sent by him and by the president of a separate company where he works went unanswered.
He described the situation plainly.
“It’s not normal,” Flash said. “It’s a weird hobby.”
