Rick Perry Indicted for Coercion

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In summary, Texas Governor Rick Perry has been indicted by a grand jury for abusing the powers of his office by vetoing funding for the public integrity unit run by the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. The veto was allegedly carried out in retaliation for Lehmberg, a Democrat, refusing to resign after being convicted of drunken driving. The case is heavily politicized, with Perry being a Republican and Lehmberg being based in the heavily Democratic city of Austin. Many critics believe the indictment to be frivolous and without merit, comparing it to indicting a ham sandwich.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state's first indicted governor in nearly a century.
. . .
. . . the public integrity unit run by the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. Lehmberg, a Democrat, was convicted of drunken driving, but refused Perry's calls to resign.

Though the Republican governor now faces two felony indictments, politics dominates the case. Lehmberg is based in Austin, which is heavily Democratic, in contrast to most of the rest of fiercely conservative Texas. The grand jury was comprised of Austin-area residents.
http://news.yahoo.com/texas-perry-indicted-coercion-veto-threat-224901143.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...nd-those-abuse-of-power-charges-against-perryOnly in Texas. :rolleyes:
 
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state's first indicted governor in nearly a century.

This is what some think of the grand jury indictment:

Rick%2BPerry%2BCampaign%2BPoster.jpg
 

1. What does it mean for Rick Perry to be indicted for coercion?

Being indicted for coercion means that a grand jury has found enough evidence to charge Rick Perry with the crime of using his position as Governor of Texas to pressure and intimidate another public official, District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, to resign from her position.

2. What is the penalty for coercion?

The penalty for coercion varies depending on the severity of the offense and the state in which it is committed. In Texas, where Rick Perry was indicted, coercion is a third-degree felony and carries a penalty of 2-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

3. What evidence led to Rick Perry's indictment for coercion?

The evidence presented to the grand jury included a public threat by Rick Perry to veto funding for the Public Integrity Unit, which was overseen by District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, if she did not resign from her position after a drunk driving conviction. This was seen as an attempt to use his power to coerce her into resigning.

4. Has Rick Perry been found guilty of coercion?

No, Rick Perry has not been found guilty of coercion yet. The indictment means that a grand jury has found enough evidence to charge him with the crime, but he has not gone to trial or been convicted. He maintains his innocence and has vowed to fight the charges.

5. What are the potential implications of Rick Perry's indictment for coercion?

If Rick Perry is found guilty of coercion, he could face jail time and a hefty fine. This could also have a significant impact on his political career and reputation. Additionally, it could have broader implications for how much power and influence politicians have and how they use it.

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