Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry Acquitted of Felony Charges
- Updated Feb 25, 2016
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been acquitted of a felony charge leveled against him after he threatened to veto and then followed through in vetoing funding for a group of public corruption prosecutors.
The Federalist reports that Perry refused funding to the group because the head of the group, Travis County district attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, had been arrested for drunk driving, but yet refused to resign from her position.
Ironically, Perry was indicted on the charge of abuse of power, though Lehmberg was the one caught behind the wheel of a vehicle with a .239 blood alcohol level in 2013. In a news video after the event, Lehmberg is shown being held in jail, kicking her cell door and yelling at law enforcement officials.
Consistent with public outrage against Lehmberg's conduct, Perry vetoed the bill that would have provided funding to the group. Perry was indicted in August 2014 for his veto.
A lower appeals court dismissed the first charge against him back in July--that of threatening to veto the funding bill.
He has now also been acquitted of actually vetoing the bill. Had he been convicted, he could have faced up to a 109-year prison sentence.
Perry stated that the indictment was a factor in his unsuccessful 2016 Republican presidential campaign.
The video of Lehmberg being held in custody is below.
Publication date: February 25, 2016
