Posted on 01/27/2015 2:23:31 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
AUSTIN – A state judge on Tuesday refused to throw out an indictment accusing former Gov. Rick Perry of abusing his veto authority to try to force out a local prosecutor.
Perry, who is actively eyeing another presidential bid, was indicted last summer. The charges stem from his 2013 threat to veto funding for a public corruption unit overseen by Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg unless she resigned after a drunken-driving arrest.
Lehmberg stayed in office after serving jail time, and Perry axed the funding. The Republican said that Lehmberg, a Democrat, had lost the public’s confidence.
A grand jury indicted Perry on two counts: abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison; and coercion of a public servant.
That second charge was described by special prosecutor Michael McCrum as a third-degree felony carrying a punishment of two to 10 years in prison.
Judge Bert Richardson said in his ruling, however, that the second count as presented in the indictment was instead a Class A misdemeanor. He also said the state must amend its filing to meet a concern raised by Perry's lawyers.
Perry’s high-profile defense team contended that the case against Perry violates his constitutional rights and his authority as governor. In a signal of the high stakes, Perry has paid them more than $1 million from his campaign fund.
Perry's team on Tuesday quickly filed notice that he will appeal the decision.
"The court followed the law and exercised a bunch of wisdom," said McCrum.
Now that may be the most hilarious post so far!
Ah, yes. The Tyrants in black.
PS Mr. DM....
Rick Perry and Tom Delay are big boys and can take care of themselves.
I guarantee you this crap will backfire on the trash trying to push it.
The Travis County DA has even tried going after Bob Bullock, a Democrat.
As of last Tuesday, Perry has no power in Texas. His successor, Greg Abbott is a real firebrand- can’t wait to see how he angers the liberals!
A Special Prosecutor named “McCrum”. Says something right there, doesn’t it?
That kind of talk makes for a good Democrat prosecutor.
They’ve got to or this won’t end.
Darn lawyers and their legal-speak!
I can’t believe that there is not a way to stop this kind of thing!
She should’ve been “benched” by the Texas State Bar!
Austin is a kind of mini-blue State surrounded by the red State of Texas.
Sorry, but were the Duke lacrosse victims ‘big boys’ too?
No. The DA, judge and the rest should be hounded, ridiculed and driven from office (if not dis-barred and/or jailed if possible).
Abuse of power is abuse of power and should rightfully be fought. I know *I* don’t want to get caught up in their drag-net B.S. when they want to obtain higher office.
How many times has Obama threatened a veto if Congress didn’t do what he told them to do?
Seems like his years-in-prison tally must be pretty high, at up to 99 years for each time.
The left has learned from their Islamist buddies, though. It only takes one corrupt area of a state/country to carry out war against the rest. Get one area where you control the populace and/or the judge, and with the camel’s nose under the tent in that location you can destroy everything.
How does the rest of TX charge this prosecutor with using his position of power to punish a political opponent - and get the case tried somewhere BESIDES Austin?
Call your state legislators today, to ask them that they start legislation to defrock the Travis County DA office if duties of these nature, and have this oversight function transferred to the State AG's office where it belongs.
There is, but we got to strike while the irons are hot. This is an important issue with our new Lt. Guv, but it has to get some traction before it can get put to the front of the line. See my previous post.
Every bit helps!
Ridicule, outrage, counter prosecutions....let the damn Rats have it!
Black robed treason is the norm. Lawlessness is USA, this day.
This judge is a Bush appointee originally. I’ve heard over the years there is no love lost between Perry and Bush, and their “people”. Could this be payback?
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