Appeals Court Will Review Rick Perry's Abuse Of Power Charge
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AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — The highest criminal court in Texas will consider whether former Governor Rick Perry should be prosecuted on charges of abusing his veto power before leaving office.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Wednesday scheduled oral arguments for November 4. The felony charge is the only remaining indictment against the former Republican presidential candidate after a lower court threw out a separate charge of coercion of a public servant.
Perry gave up his second run for the White House last month amid fundraising struggles and low poll numbers. He has partly blamed the criminal case for his early exit. Speaking in St. Louis Perry said he had no regrets. "I step aside knowing our party is in good hands, and as long as we listen to the grassroots, and listen to that cause of conservatism, if we do that, then our party will be in good hands."
The longest-serving governor in Texas history is accused of unlawfully using his power to try and force the resignation of a district attorney. A special prosecutor spent months calling witnesses and presenting evidence that Perry broke the law when he promised publicly to nix $7.5 million over two years for the public integrity unit run by the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. Lehmberg, a Democrat, was convicted of drunken driving, but refused Perry's calls to resign.
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