Texas Governor Perry gets support in felony case from bipartisan lawyers

[Valin]

Reuters:

Jon Herskovitz

AUSTIN Texas Mon Nov 10, 2014

 

Reuters) - A bipartisan and high-profile group of lawyers on Monday filed a brief seeking to have abuse of power felony charges against Texas Governor Rick Perry thrown out, arguing the indictment against him is constitutionally flawed.

 

Perry, seen as a possible Republican candidate in the 2016 presidential race, has said he was within his rights as governor in vetoing funds for a county prosecutor, a veto that resulted in the two felony charges being laid against him.

 

"Reasonable people can disagree on the political tactics employed by both Governor Perry and his opponents. But to turn political disagreement into criminal prosecution is disturbing," said the amicus brief filed at a court in Austin by more than a dozen lawyers.

 

"Both counts of the indictment are unconstitutional and must be dismissed," said the brief, whose signers included Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel who investigated Democratic President Bill Clinton, and Paul Coggins, a former U.S. attorney appointed by Clinton.

 

(Snip)