Rick Perry Indictment: Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal Defend Texas Governor
As The Inquisitr reported yesterday, Texas Governor Rick Perry became the first governor in the state since 1917 to be indicted by a grand jury. Perry was indicted on two felony counts — abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant — after he threatened to “veto funding” if District Attorney Rosemary Lehberg didn’t resign after she was convicted of drunk driving.
Early this morning, Texas Senator Ted Cruz took to Facebook to defend Rick Perry. Cruz wrote:
“Unfortunately, there has been a sad history of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office engaging in politically-motivated prosecutions, and this latest indictment of the governor is extremely questionable. Rick Perry is a friend, he’s a man of integrity – 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.”
Both Ted Cruz and Rick Perry have been considered potential GOP candidates for the 2016 presidential election, according to a report from The Hill.
According to Buzzfeed, Rick Perry spoke to reporters in Austin, Texas, saying that he stands behind his decision to veto funding, and the indictment is a “farce.”
“I’ll continue to defend this lawful action of my executive authority as governor.”
Perry continued by stating “indictments” are not a way to “settle political differences” in America.
“It is outrageous that some would use partisan political theatrics to rip away at the very fabric of our state’s constitution. This indictment amounts to nothing more than abuse of power. And I cannot and I will not allow that to happen.”
Another person who has come out in support of Rick Perry is Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. Posting on Twitter this morning, Jindal said the indictment against Perry is “a political witch-hunt.”
The lawsuit against @GovernorPerry is a blatant misuse of the judicial system by liberal activists who couldn’t defeat him at the polls.
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) August 16, 2014
.@GovernorPerry exercised his constitutional authority and this circus is simply a political witch-hunt.
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) August 16, 2014
I stand behind @GovernorPerry in his fight for honest government and I am certain he will prevail in this partisan suit.
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) August 16, 2014
Being convicted of abuse of power can result in five to 99 years in prison, and coercion of a public servant can get someone two to 10 years. While it is uncertain if Rick Perry will run in the 2016 presidential election, Reuters did report that Perry is not seeking re-election as governor of Texas.
[Image via Pat Dollard]
