The state’s top criminal court tossed out the criminal charges against former Texas Governor Rick Perry Wednesday. It was an abrupt end to the legal troubles that have loomed over Perry during his last moments in the Governor’s mansion and his failed 2016 presidential run.
“I’m proud that the rule of law prevailed,” Perry said. The ruling means Perry avoids a trial and a possible prison sentence for the abuse-of-power charge.
“I’ve always known that the actions I took were not only lawful and legal, but they were right,” said Perry.
The legal dispute date backs to the 2013 legislative session. Then-Governor Perry threatened to veto money for the Public Integrity Unit.
Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg’s office runs the PIU. Perry asked Lehmberg to step down from her position after she was arrested and convicted on DWI charges. When Lehmberg refused to resign, Perry followed through on his threat and vetoed $7.5 million in state funding for the PIU.
“Justice hasn’t been done here,” said Craig McDonald, director of the Texans for Public Justice. The head of the group, McDonald, said the ruling was disappointing but not surprising.
“I think the court handed him a get out of jail free card today,” McDonald said.
The state’s criminal court of appeals determined the statute that outlaws abuse of power by Texas governors did not apply to this case. The appellate court ruled to toss the abuse-of-power charge against Perry before any evidence was presented.
“So this means criminals can be tried and they can appeal their case before the facts are even brought out in court. That’s what this ruling means,” McDonald said.
The group has no plans to file an appeal with a higher court.
“They are forever buried now, now in the court’s ruling. The evidence will never come to open court and I think that was Perry and his defense team’s motive all along,” McDonald said.
From the beginning, when the charges first emerged, Perry dismissed the case as a political witch hunt. At a press conference Wednesday, Perry said the prosecutors tried to erode the powers of the state governor.
“The people of this state don’t want rogue prosecutors. They don’t want rogue organizations that use the political process, that use the court system, to do what they can’t get done at the ballot box and I think that’s what we saw here,” Perry said.
At TPJ, McDonald said they are ready to leave this case behind. He just hopes this ruling does not set precedent for the state’s justice system.
