Defiant Gov. Perry In Court: “I Stand Behind That Veto”
Jack Fink
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AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - Governor Rick Perry didn’t say anything during his first court appearance as a criminal defendant. But afterwards, he had plenty of say. “I stand behind that veto, and I would make that veto again.”
Governor Perry said the two felony charges against him should be dropped because special prosecutor Michael McCrum didn’t follow the law. At issue, the oath of office McCrum took – but didn’t sign – as he became special prosecutor. But McCrum rejected that.
“I’m not shying away from the facts. My position is it just doesn’t negate my authority,” he said.
A grand jury indicted the Governor in August after he threatened to veto some state funds for Travis County’s Democratic DA, Rosemary Lehmberg if she didn’t resign following her DUI conviction. He carried out the veto after she refused to quit. But Thursday, charges of politics intensified after a court clerk revealed only two grand jury investigations have ever been assigned special case numbers: Perry’s and another Republican, former House Majority Leader Tom Delay, who was indicted, convicted, then cleared of charges.
One of the Governor’s attorneys, Tony Buzbee asked, “Why in 16 years have they created special folders for only two people? This has been a comedy of errors from the start.”
In response, McCrum the special prosecutor said, “This is so amazing that the clerk’s office in this county did it’s job for trying to make it easier on Mr. Perry and his lawyers, and now, they’re getting bullied.”
As for Governor Perry, he was asked if this case has been a distraction. “I’m able to multi-task pretty good, so the question is, am I able to get my work done, which I am.”
The judge says he will rule next week whether McCrum’s oath of office should lead to the criminal charges being dropped and case being dismissed.
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