Rick Perry Indictment Pre-Trial

Governor Rick Perry is due in court for his second pre-trial hearing today. At issue is Perry’s veto of millions of state dollars to the office of the Travis County District Attorney after she failed to heed his demand for her resignation. The veto subsequently derailed 400 felony investigations committed against the State of Texas.

Here’s an update on what’s gone down since he was booked on a two-count felony indictment in August:

• Reprimanded and accused of mocking the justice system: After remarks at a press conference in which Rick Perry responded to the indictment by stating “those responsible will be held to account,” he was issued a stern warning from the courts. Judge Julie Kocurek said that the only people the Governor could be referring to as being held accountable are the grand jurors, the judge and the prosecutor. In issuing her warning, she cited the section of the Texas Penal Code that outlaws retaliation against a grand juror—a second-degree felony. Third felony’s the charm, right? Citing the circus Rick Perry’s legal defense team created around his booking at the courthouse, special prosecutor Michael McCrum commented that he’d “never seen a defendant make such a mockery of our system of justice.” 

• Continues to threaten grand jury: Perry’s defense team has since requested transcripts from the grand jury investigation. These transcripts would identify the grand jurors involved in his indictment: “There's also a risk the governor, armed with a transcript, would retaliate against anyone associated with the grand jury process, prosecutors argued. ‘In particular, the defendant's own words have instilled a concern for all persons who participated in the grand jury investigation.’"{C}
• Instead of being in court for his first pre-trial hearing, Rick Perry was in Europe: Instead of showing up to court like regular folks, Rick Perry asked the judge for a “special favor” to skip his first pre-trial hearing so that he can take a trip to Europe. Perry will be traveling to tout his Texas economic development plan—a plan that includes the scandal-ridden Texas Enterprise Fund.
• More Lawyers than OJ Simpson? Rick Perry’s growing team of high-profile, top-dollar lawyers—a legal defense team nearing the size of O.J. Simpson’s—has been grasping at straws to crank out three separate motions to dismiss the indictment. All have failed. His private legal defense, which reportedly costs $450 an hour and previously collected $133,000 in taxpayer money, has made futile attempts to complain about the prosecutor’s $250 an hour fee.
• Question on legal fees still ignored by Attorney General Greg Abbott: Back in April a Texas Legislator submitted an official inquiry regarding the legality of the Governor’s use of taxpayer funds – now up to as much as $133,000 – for his private legal defense. Attorney General Greg Abbott has ignored the request. A local attorney has since filed a lawsuit over the use of the funds.
• And the obligatory “oops” moment: While on the presidential campaign trail in New Hampshire, Perry claimed he did not know the charges involved in his felony indictment, saying “I’ve been indicted by that same body now for I think two counts, one of bribery, which I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t really understand the details here.” Well at least he’s getting the message now, as we’ve stated before about this issue – it’s not the veto, it’s the bribe.