Texas appeals court tosses one count against former Governor Perry

[Valin]

Reuters:

Jim Forsyth

July 24 2015

 

A Texas state appeals court on Friday dismissed one of two felony counts in an abuse-of-power case against former Governor Rick Perry stemming from a 2013 veto by the now-presidential candidate.

 

The Texas Third Court of Appeals in Austin threw out a count of coercion of a public official, saying it violated Perry's right to free speech. However, the court let stand an abuse of official capacity charge.

 

In a 97-page opinion, the court said the statute on which the "coercion of a public servant" violates the First Amendment and cannot be enforced.

 

Perry was indicted in August by a grand jury in Travis County, a Democratic stronghold in a heavily Republican state, with abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public official, a third-degree felony.

 

If convicted of a first-degree felony, he could face from five to 99 years in prison.

 

(Snip)

 

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"It’s been a bad month for out-of-control state prosecutors with political axes to grind."

Ed Morrissey