Thread: Texas Gov. Perry indicted for coercion for veto threat

Texas Gov. Perry indicted for coercion for veto threat

Published August 15, 2014 Associated Press

Aug. 8, 2014: Governor Rick Perry speaks at the 2014 Red State Gathering, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP)


AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been indicted for abuse of power after carrying out a threat to veto funding for state public corruption prosecutors.

The Republican governor is accused of abusing his official powers by publicly promising to veto $7.5 million for the state public integrity unit at the Travis County District Attorney's office. He was indicted by an Austin grand jury Friday.

Perry said he'd veto the funding if the district attorney, Rosemary Lehmberg, didn't resign. Lehmberg had recently been convicted of drunken driving. The state's Public Integrity Unit operates out of her office.

When Lehmberg refused, Perry carried out his veto, drawing an ethics complaint.

Perry is the first Texas governor indicted in nearly a century. He's leaving office in January, but he's a possible 2016 presidential run.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...r-veto-threat/

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Texas' Rick Perry charged with coercion for veto threat




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By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 8/15/14 6:52 PM EDT Updated: 8/15/14 7:56 PM EDT

AUSTIN, Texas — A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state's first indicted governor in nearly a century.

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, which is run by Travis County Democratic District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg's office. It's the same office that indicted U.S. Rep. Tom Delay as part of a finance probe.

Rick Perry's career

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Several top aides to the Republican governor appeared before grand jurors in Austin, including his deputy chief of staff, legislative director and general counsel. Perry himself did not testify, though.

(Also on POLITICO: Perry on Perry: 'I'm awesome!')

Grand jurors indicted Perry on abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony with potential punishments of five to 99 years in prison, and coercion of a public servant, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years.

A spokesman for the governor didn't immediately return messages seeking comment.

No one disputes that Perry is allowed to veto measures approved by the Legislature, including part or all of the state budget. But the left-leaning Texans for Public Justice government watchdog group filed an ethics complaint accusing the governor of coercion because he threatened to use his veto before actually doing so in an attempt to pressure Lehmberg to quit.

(Also on POLITICO: Perry: Obama shouldn't leave 'any air' between U. S., Israel)

"I took into account the fact that we're talking about a governor of a state — and a governor of the state of Texas, which we all love," said Michael McCrum, the San Antonio-based special prosecutor. "Obviously that carries a lot of importance. But when it gets down to it, the law is the law."

In office since 2000 and already the longest-serving governor in Texas history, Perry isn't seeking re-election in November. But the criminal investigation could mar his political prospects as he mulls another run at the White House, after his 2012 presidential bid flamed out.

McCrum said he'll meet with Perry's attorney Monday to discuss when he will come to the courthouse to be arraigned. McCrum said he doesn't know when Perry will be booked.

Asked why McCrum never spoke to Perry personally, McCrum said, "That's prosecutorial discretion that I had."

(Also on POLITICO: Rick Perry PAC created)

Lehmberg oversees the office's public integrity unit, which investigates statewide allegations of corruption and political wrongdoing. Perry said he wouldn't allow Texas to fund the unit while Lehmberg remained in charge.

Perry said Lehmberg, who is based in Austin, should resign after she was arrested and pleaded guilty to drunken driving in April 2013. A video recording made at the jail showed Lehmberg shouting at staffers to call the sheriff, kicking the door of her cell and sticking her tongue out.

Lehmberg faced pressure from other high-profile Republicans in addition to Perry to give up her post. Her blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit for driving.

Lehmberg served about half of her 45-day jail sentence but stayed in office, despite Perry's assertions that her behavior was inappropriate.

The jail video led to an investigation of Lehmberg by a separate grand jury, which decided she should not be removed for official misconduct.

The indictment is the first of its kind since 1917, when James "Pa" Ferguson was indicted on charges stemming from his veto of state funding to the University of Texas in an effort to unseat faculty and staff members he objected to. Ferguson was eventually impeached, then resigned before being convicted, allowing his wife, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, to take over the governorship.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/0...#ixzz3AVbaONvi

1. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas Is Indicted on Charge of Abuse of ...
   
   
   New York Times ‎- 23 minutes ago
   Rick Perry on two felony counts on Friday, charging that he abused his power last year when he attempted to pressure the district attorney here, ...

Sen. Cruz calls Perry indictment 'highly questionable,' as Dems crank up attack

Published August 16, 2014 FoxNews.com

Texas’ junior Sen. Ted Cruz gave his support Saturday to Gov. Rick Perry following his indictment, while other high-profile lawmakers have largely remained silent on the politically-charge issue.

The outspoken first-term senator defended his fellow Republican's integrity.

He also called the indictment “highly-questionable” and argued that the Travis County District Attorney's Office that indicted Perry has a “sad history” of engaging in politically-motivated prosecutions.

Perry, a 2012 GOP presidential candidate with potential 2016 aspirations, was indicted Friday for allegedly abusing his veto power during a dispute with a public-corruption prosecutor over her drunken driving arrest.

The indictment claims Perry broke the law when he threatened to veto $7.5 million over two years for the public integrity unit run by the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, after she pleaded guilty to drunken driving in April 2013 and refused to resign.

“Rick Perry is a friend, he's a man of integrity,” said Cruz, who also appears to have 2016 White House aspirations. “I am proud to stand with Rick Perry.

The Texas Constitution gives the governor the power to veto legislation. And a criminal indictment predicated on the exercise of his constitutional authority is, on its face, highly suspect.”

Perry vetoed the money after Lehmberg, a Democrat, refused to resign.

Democratic lawmakers appear to be staying out of the dispute, at least for now. But the Democratic National Committee is already on the attack, much like it was when another potential 2016 GOP White House candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was answering questions about his connection to a staff member and political appointees in Sept. 2013 ordering the unannounced closure of toll lanes on the George Washington Bridge, causing traffic jams in Fort Lee, N.J., whose mayor didn’t endorse Christie’s successful re-election bid.

On Saturday, DNC spokeswoman Lily Adams posted on Twitter a picture of a banner newspaper headline that read: “Perry Indicted for Veto Threat” underneath her tweet: “What Perry woke up to.”

The tweet was one of several on the DNC’s Twitter feed regarding the indictment.

The Texas Democratic Party has already called on Perry to resign, calling the situation "unbecoming" of a Texas governor.

"Governor Rick Perry has brought dishonor to his office, his family and the state of Texas. Texans deserve to have leaders that stand up for what is right and work to help families across Texas," party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement.

State GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri of Houston said “a politically motivated prosecution” yielded the indictment.

“It’s not unusual for people in cases involving politics to move forward with an indictment and ultimately … the case doesn’t go anywhere or the person is eventually exonerated,” he said, according to Politico.

CLICK TO READ THE INDICTMENT.

Mary Anne Wiley, general counsel for Perry, said late Friday the governor's actions were allowed under the law.

“The veto in question was made in accordance with the veto authority afforded to every governor under the Texas Constitution," she said. "We will continue to aggressively defend the governor's lawful and constitutional action, and believe we will ultimately prevail.”

Perry's defense attorney David L. Botsford, whose $450-per hour fees are being paid for by state funds, said he was "outraged and appalled" at the decision.

"This clearly represents political abuse of the court system and there is no legal basis in this decision," he said in a statement.

CLICK TO READ THE FULL STATEMENT FROM PERRY'S ATTORNEY.

Several top aides to Perry appeared before grand jurors in Austin, including his deputy chief of staff, legislative director and general counsel. Perry himself wasn't called to testify.

Perry was indicted by an Austin grand jury on felony counts of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant. Maximum punishment on the first charge is five to 99 years in prison, and two to 10 years on the second.

The indictment comes toward the end of Perry’s final term in office. In office since 2000 and already the longest-serving governor in Texas history, Perry isn't seeking re-election in November. But he was thought to be weighing a possible presidential run in 2016.

"I took into account the fact that we're talking about a governor of a state — and a governor of the state of Texas, which we all love," said Michael McCrum, the San Antonio-based special prosecutor who got the indictment.

"Obviously that carries a lot of importance. But when it gets down to it, the law is the law."

McCrum said he'll meet with Perry's attorney Monday to discuss when he will come to the courthouse to be arraigned. McCrum said he doesn't know when Perry will be booked.

Accusations have flown on both sides in the legal showdown.

Perry originally said Lehmberg, who is based in Austin, should resign after her arrest. A video recording made at the jail showed Lehmberg shouting at staffers to call the sheriff, kicking the door of her cell and sticking out her tongue. Lehmberg faced pressure from other high-profile Republicans in addition to Perry to give up her post. Her blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit for driving.

Lehmberg served about half of her 45-day jail sentence but stayed in office, despite Perry's assertions that her behavior was inappropriate. The jail video led to an investigation of Lehmberg by a separate grand jury, which decided she should not be removed for official misconduct.

Her office is the same office that indicted U.S. Rep. Tom Delay as part of a finance probe.

No one disputes that Perry is allowed to veto measures approved by the Legislature, including part or all of the state budget.

However, the left-leaning Texans for Public Justice government watchdog group filed an ethics complaint accusing the governor of coercion since he threatened to use his veto before actually doing so in an attempt to pressure Lehmberg to quit.

Lehmberg oversees the office's public integrity unit, which investigates statewide allegations of corruption and political wrongdoing. Perry said he wouldn't allow Texas to fund the unit while Lehmberg remained in charge. He used his line-item veto power to remove funding for the unit from the Texas budget.

Perry and his aides say he didn't break any laws.

"The veto in question was made in accordance with the veto power afforded to every governor under the Texas Constitution, and we remain ready and willing to assist with this inquiry," spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said in April, after the grand jury was convened in the case.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014...dems-crank-up/

VIDEOS: Belligerent Drunk Democrat Rosemary Lehmberg in Charge of ‘Integrity Unit’ Indicts Rick Perry Over a Lawful Veto

August 16, 2014 By Matthew Burke

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Democrat Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg during her drunk driving booking

Travis County, Texas District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg issued perhaps the most frivolous, vengeful, and politicized indictment of a politician on Friday.

Lehmberg, who shockingly still runs the state’s Public Integrity Unit, refused to resign from her position following her drunk driving conviction last year, forcing Texas Governor Rick Perry to use his line item veto power to cut funding to Lehmberg’s office.
(MUST WATCH ARREST VIDEOS BELOW)
Texas law, as does several other states, gives the governor the authority to use the line item veto. Perry’s using it is not an abuse of power.

It’s precious that the same people who argue that Obama’s “pen and phone,” which unconstitutionally makes laws, changes laws, and uses federal bureaucracies to commit acts of tyranny against innocent U.S. citizens (see IRS, NSA, EPA, DHS, etc.), is not an abuse of power, but potential Republican 2016 presidential candidate Perry’s using his lawful veto power is somehow an abuse of power.

Lehmberg was sentenced to 45 days in jail, but released after spending 23 days in the slammer.

Rather than do the honorable thing and resign from her position after her conviction, a special prosecutor who answers to Lehmberg is indicting Perry for trying to restore the Public Integrity Unit’s…integrity.

After the officers stopped Lehmberg from tipping over, the belligerent and clearly plastered (see 5:10 mark in first video below) Lehmberg flails her arms at the two officers, argued, “I’m fine; leave me alone. I’m not gonna fall. I just have a bad back.”

Only a few seconds prior to this explanation, Lehmberg gave the excuse that she was not able to walk the straight white line on the pavement because of a “bad hip.”

A stumbling and staggering Lehmberg told the officers she wasn’t able to properly walk the line “because it hurts.” Several times she begins attempting to walk the straight line disregarding the officer’s instructions. After finally allowing the officer to demonstrate his instructions (to put one foot in front of another) without being interrupted, she admits, “I can’t do that.”

When attempting to stand on one leg, the crocked DA almost fell over again, telling the officer, “It hurts, can’t you understand that?”

After Lehmberg tells the officer, “I can’t do that,” the officer explains that because of the fact that she failed the sobriety tests, and because of her “erratic driving,” which included her driving in the bike lane (thank God a bicyclist wasn’t in it), “going southbound in a northbound lane of traffic” it left him no choice but to arrest her. She was then handcuffed.

“This is pretty interesting. Are you going to take me to jail?” Lehmberg asks.

“Yes Ma’am,” answers the officer.

“Huh,” she responds in wonderment.



Below is footage of Lehmberg’s booking footage from the Travis County Jail. Her behavior fluctuates between being disrespectful, combative, and downcast, continually denying that she was drunk and repeatedly blaming the officers for “ruining my career.”

Shockingly, Lehmberg remains in her position today.



As disgusting as Lehmberg’s behavior was, it pales in comparison to the leftstream media’s reporting her indictment of Perry as being legitimate, a really reprehensible attempt to derail the Republicans potential 2016 presidential candidacy.

http://www.tpnn.com/2014/08/16/videos-belligerent-drunk-democrat-rosemary-lehmberg-in-charge-of-integrity-unit-indicts-rick-perry-over-a-lawful-veto/

Article from April 15, 2013.

Texas District Attorney Arrested for Drunk Driving: Appeared ‘Exciting’ and ‘Cocky’

Apr. 15, 2013 9:35am
Billy Hallowell



District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg (Photo Credit: YNN)

A district attorney in Travis County, Texas, is now finding herself on the other side of the law. Over the weekend, Rosemary Lehmberg, 63, was arrested for drunk driving.

Initially, following the incident, the veteran prosecutor was adamant about not stepping down from her position — but some critics are putting intense pressure on her to do just that.

So far, she has rebuffed these calls. But on Sunday, Lehmberg — a Democrat who isreportedly openly gay — did write a letter to prosecutors, agreeing to unconditionally accept any jail time and ramifications that result from the Friday night incident.

The situation unfolded after a local resident noticed that the district attorney (whose identity he didn’t know at the time) was driving erratically. Here’s how YNN describes the situation surrounding the arrest:

Deputies booked Lehmberg into the Travis County Jail after she failed to cooperate with field sobriety tests.

Resident Mark Weston called deputies at about 10:45 p.m. after seeing a 2001 Lexus swerving in and out of a bike lane for about one mile on the southbound side of FM 620 near RM 2222.

“For awhile I could see her and she looked confused like she was lost, and that is what I thought,” Weston said in an interview with YNN.

As Lehmberg’s driving became more erratic, Weston grew concerned and called 911.

YNn also describes the failed field sobriety tests:

In the affidavit, Deputy J. Ribsam describes Lehmberg as moderately intoxicated with bloodshot, watery and glassy eyes. According to the deputy, Lehmberg appeared “exciting,” “insulting,” “cocky,” yet “corporative.” Further, the subject was described as disoriented with slurred speech. She was also seen swaying and staggering.

During an attempted horizontal gaze exam, Ribsam said the DA “would not keep her head still and follow the light to complete the test.” Lehmberg then informed the deputy she refused further vision testing.

During a walk-and-turn test, the 63-year-old veteran prosecutor lost her balance and did not follow instructions as directed by investigators. Lehmberg again told Ribsam she would not complete any more testing as she declined to stand on one leg.

Deputies said Lehmberg told them she had taken 20MG of Propanolol, a prescription drug for high-blood pressure. Pharmacists do not recommend drinking while on the medication.

Police found a bottle of vodka in Lehmberg’s passenger-side seat. According to the YNN report, she was also allegedly slurring her words, disoriented and very clearly intoxicated when authorities arrived at the scene. Lehmberg was detained and spent an evening in jail; she was released after $3,000 bail was posted on Saturday morning.

While she admitted fault, Lehmberg has said that she doesn’t have any plans to step down. Considering that her office doesn’t handle first-time DWIs and her contention that her error doesn’t disqualify her from her district attorney position, the official has, so far, seemed emboldened to stay in her role.

“I got arrested for driving while intoxicated last night and I made a big mistake and I’m sorry,” she told media in an interview conducted outside her home. “I hope people in the community will forgive me for that, and I ask their forgiveness for that. I guess I’m fortunate that nobody got hurt.”

On Sunday, Lehmberg sent a letter to prosecutors, expounding upon her crime and taking full responsibility. The note, according to the American-Statesman, was one page in length and included an apology to Travis County authorities. She admitted “acting unreasonably” and said that “the fault is my own.”

“I enter this plea without request for delay, without legal argument by counsel, without any plea bargain and without any request for leniency or consideration of any type,” she wrote.

It seems that there could be some questions about her conduct during — and after — the arrest, which is purportedly why she apologized so profusely in the letter. The Statesman has more:

In a brief interview with the American-Statesman on Sunday, Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton said he had not yet been provided details about the arrest or Lehmberg’s conduct toward deputies or corrections officers. He said he has scheduled a meeting with his staff Monday to discuss those matters.

Much of Lehmberg’s actions during and after the arrest were documented on patrol car cameras and cameras inside the jail, but those videos have not been made public.

Also Sunday, Oden confirmed that Lehmberg’s blood was drawn by jail staff. A judge signed a court order for the blood sample at the request of arresting deputies, Oden said, but it remained unclear to him whether Lehmberg provided, attempted to provide, or refused to provide a breath sample.

Lehmberg could face up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine for a first-time DWI offense (although, depending on blood-alcohol levels, these penalties could be more severe).

In the wake of the incident, some are demanding that the official resign. Read more about this incident here.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013...ing-and-cocky/

Perry is an open border traitor

so I don't really care who does what to him.


. . . The Secure Fence Act of 2006 was passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2006.

The government of Mexico and ministers of several Latin American countries have condemned the plans.[15] Rick Perry, governor of Texas, also expressed his opposition saying that instead of closing the border it should be opened more and through technology support legal and safe migration. . .


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico%...States_barrier

Tea Party Fraud Rick Perry is Political Herpes

Started by AirborneSapper7, 08-16-2011 12:05 AM

Rick Perry on Immigration

. . . You don't have a heart if you don't educate immigrant kids. (Sep 2011) A 2000-mile fence makes no sense; need boots on the ground. (Sep 2011) Discounted in-state tuition regardless of immigration status. (Sep 2011) Let illegals contribute to society & pursue citizenship. (Sep 2011) Import farm workers from Mexico. (Sep 2001) . . .

http://www.alipac.us/f9/rick-perry-issues-309544/