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August 18, 2014

Texas Gov. Perry Vows to Fight Charges of Abuse of Power, Coercion 
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Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been indicted on two felony counts of abuse of
power and coercion. The charges stem from Perry's veto of $7.5 million
in funding for the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District
Attorney's Office. The Travis County prosecutor, Rosemary Lehmberg, was
arrested for drunk driving last year. That led Perry to declare Lehmerg
unfit for office and threaten to veto the funding to her office unless
she resigned. Perry carried through on his threat after Lehmerg refused
to step down. On Friday, a grand jury indicted Perry on charges of
abusing official capacity and coercion of a public servant. One day
later, Perry stood by his actions and vowed to fight the case.

Gov. Rick Perry: "I wholeheartedly and unequivocally stand behind my
veto, and I'll continue to defend this lawful action of my executive
authority as governor. We don't settle political differences with
indictments in this country. It is outrageous that some would use
partisan political theatrics to rip away at the very fabric of our
state's Constitution. This indictment amounts to nothing more than abuse
of power."

Perry's veto had undercut a probe by Lehmberg's unit into potential
mismanagement at one of Perry's signature achievements, the Cancer
Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. He is expected to be booked
for a mug shot in the coming days.

 

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