Texas' Perry indicted for coercion for veto threat

[Engineer]

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-perry-indicted-coercion-veto-threat-224901143.html

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — 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's 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 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. The second is two to 10 years.

Perry said he'd veto the funding if the district attorney, Rosemary Lehmberg, didn't resign. Lehmberg had recently been convicted of drunken driving. When Lehmberg refused, Perry carried out his veto.

I suspect that Perry will get out of this but not a smart move to threaten to withhold (VETO) money if someone you don't like doesn't do what you tell them to do (resign in this case). I'm surprised a Texas grand jury indicted him, TBH.

 

[Balt]

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-perry-indicted-coercion-veto-threat-224901143.html



I suspect that Perry will get out of this but not a smart move to threaten to withhold (VETO) money if someone you don't like doesn't do what you tell them to do (resign in this case). I'm surprised a Texas grand jury indicted him, TBH.

Well, to be fair, it was in Austin. The grand jury was probably made up of people from the general region, though I'm not sure how things work in Texas.

As you said, I doubt it will lead to anything, even if it was a scumbag move.

 

[Oldgamer]

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-perry-indicted-coercion-veto-threat-224901143.html



I suspect that Perry will get out of this but not a smart move to threaten to withhold (VETO) money if someone you don't like doesn't do what you tell them to do (resign in this case). I'm surprised a Texas grand jury indicted him, TBH.

Isn't this similar to what Chris Christie did at some point that had gotten him into hot water and put him under investigation? I think it was during the bridge scandal investigation.

 

[MongGrel]

Glad to see it, I doubt it will go through.

GOP has been doing this type of crap for years while not doing anything beneficial in general.

 

[Jhhnn]

Well, Tom Delay was driven from office under Texas election law, convicted & later had it reversed, avoided prison in the process.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_DeLay

It won't be good for ol' Rick's presidential aspirations, bet on that. Vetoing funding for anti-corruption efforts doesn't look good on anybody.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

If only Cuomo would be prosecuted. Ah well party machine in NY is too powerful.

 

[UberNeuman]

"Y'all can't git me on no charges! I'm wearin' ma smartifin' glasses."

 

[Jhhnn]

If only Cuomo would be prosecuted. Ah well party machine in NY is too powerful.

So start a thread.

 

[loganone]

Vetoing funding for anti-corruption efforts doesn't look good on anybody.

It does when those anti-corruption efforts are being run by a convicted criminal.

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.

Put away your bias for a few minutes and I bet you'll even agree with him.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

How will he be our NEXT PRESIDENT if he is in jail?!?!?!

 

[HTFOff]

I'm sorry. This is just fucking weak.

 

[MongGrel]

How will he be our NEXT PRESIDENT if he is in jail?!?!?!

:hmm:

:biggrin:

 

[Jhhnn]

It does when those anti-corruption efforts are being run by a convicted criminal.

Put away your bias for a few minutes and I bet you'll even agree with him.

Does Texas law demand she step down? Apparently not. Did it have anything to do with corruption? Apparently not. Is this like baby-rapin'?

Did Perry say he'd support the funding if she did?

Drunk driving raps are like sharks coming in frequently to snatch a few victims from a crowded beach. Lots of people in the water all the time. Felony indictments against a sitting Governor are quite rare, OTOH.

Rick Perry is a dolt & a toadie for the right wing elite of Texas. I mean, he does alright when sticking to the script, for the most part, but he never had the sense to do that well. This is no different.

 

[IronWing]

I'm sorry. This is just fucking weak.

How is carrying out a legal authority of the office classified as corruption? Couldn't Perry veto any bill for any reason or for no reason at all?

 

[Jhhnn]

I'm sorry. This is just fucking weak.

They said that when Tommy "the Hammer" was indicted, too.

 

[chucky2]

"A video recording made at the jail showed Lehmberg shouting at staffers to call the sheriff"

Somehow that doesn't sound like an ethical implication... :hmm:

 

[HTFOff]

So start a thread.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2392335&highlight=cuomo

 

[FelixDeCat]

The person who is prosecuting him is a convicted drunk driver who should have resigned, but she is a drunk and now wants revenge.

"Public integrity" my foot!

 

[Jhhnn]

How is carrying out a legal authority of the office classified as corruption? Couldn't Perry veto any bill for any reason or for no reason at all?

It wasn't the veto so much as it was the threats and then the veto as retribution when she didn't resign from coercion. There is a difference-

Perry was indicted on charges of 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.

It's not like this was about her actual job performance, at all. Texas Repubs have wanted her out ever since she hammered the Hammer. Perry saw an opportunity to bully her, which has backfired. How corrupt is it to de-fund an important part of anti corruption efforts for purely political reasons?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2392335&highlight=cuomo

Heh, yep, that's him. He's like a less honest and more corrupt Perry.

 

[fskimospy]

I find it unlikely that this will stick.

 

[FelixDeCat]

It wasn't the veto so much as it was the threats and then the veto as retribution when she didn't resign from coercion. There is a difference-

It's not like this was about her actual job performance, at all. Texas Repubs have wanted her out ever since she hammered the Hammer. Perry saw an opportunity to bully her, which has backfired. How corrupt is it to de-fund an important part of anti corruption efforts for purely political reasons?

The only corruption they were looking for was that of the Republican stripe. The whole thing is nothing more than a political tool of liberals to get that crazy woman elected (both of them...Wendy Davis and Hillary)!

Travis County is our version of Washington State.

 

[Engineer]

How is carrying out a legal authority of the office classified as corruption? Couldn't Perry veto any bill for any reason or for no reason at all?

He could...as long as he kept his mouth shut while doing so. Threatening to do it unless someone resigns obviously is outside that legal authority and, based on the indictment, apparently illegal.

 

[DominionSeraph]

How is carrying out a legal authority of the office classified as corruption? Couldn't Perry veto any bill for any reason or for no reason at all?

Do you believe that bribery should be legal? Why shouldn't an elected official's choice be allowed to be swayed by money if it's his choice?

Perry used his power of choice to try to interfere with an elected official. He didn't want a Democrat in office so he threatened to veto her budget unless she resigned. Using his power in order to try to override the law (she was under no legal obligation to resign) and the will of the People (she was elected to office) is an abuse of power.
He didn't veto it because it was good policy, he used the threat of veto to try to coerce her, and when she didn't resign, carried out the threat in retaliation. That's abuse of power.

 

[sportage]

The person who is prosecuting him is a convicted drunk driver who should have resigned, but she is scum and now wants revenge.

"Public integrity" my foot!

Two totally different issues.
Her being issue #1.
And Perry's action issue #2.

Keep focused.
What Perry did, has done, is illegal no matter what provoked him.
She is not the issue, he is the issue. Here.
And as they say, two wrongs do not make a right.
Right Rick?