--- title: Texas Governor Rick Perry Defiant in Face of Criminal Charges description: Veto power is protected by the Texas constitution, Perry says canonical: https://time.com/3126445/texas-governor-rick-perry-criminal-charges-indictment/ author: Sam Frizell article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-08-16T19:59:47.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:58:07.156Z article:section: Politics og:title: Texas Governor Rick Perry Defiant in Face of Criminal Charges og:description: Veto power is protected by the Texas constitution, Perry says og:url: https://time.com/3126445/texas-governor-rick-perry-criminal-charges-indictment/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt41c636c7651ba263/69869fd155a8599e70a8231d/rick-perry1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5184 og:image:height: 2916 og:image:alt: Rick Perry og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Texas Governor Rick Perry Defiant in Face of Criminal Charges twitter:description: Veto power is protected by the Texas constitution, Perry says twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt41c636c7651ba263/69869fd155a8599e70a8231d/rick-perry1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Rick Perry Defiant in Face of Criminal Charges > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=6ab6ec1c-1ac4-4796-a40d-c66fe7ce41ec&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Conservatives Come To Perry’s Defense After Indictment [Watch (HLS stream): Conservatives Come To Perry’s Defense After Indictment](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/94Sww1MP.m3u8) (1:57)  _Published 2014-08-17. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is pushing back against an indictment over abuse of power charges, and he has support from pundits on both sides of the aisle._ by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Aug 16, 2014 7:59 PM UTC by [Sam Frizell](https://time.com/author/sam-frizell/) ## Sam Frizell Aug 16, 2014 7:59 PM UTC Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Saturday dismissed the criminal charges leveled against him as partisan political gamesmanship, and vowed to stand by his decision in 2013 to veto funding for a public integrity unit. “We don’t settle political differences with indictments,” said Perry, referring to the grand jury’s Friday [indictment against him](http://time.com/3121778/rick-perry-indicted-in-politically-charged-texas-battle/). “‘It is outrageous that some would use partisan political theatrics to tear away the fabric of our constitution.” The indictment is a response to Perry’s 2013 veto of $7.5 million in funding to state’s public integrity unit, based in the Travis County district attorney’s office. District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, who ran the unit, was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated in 2012\. Perry vetoed her office’s funding after she refused to step aside. At the time that Perry vetoed the funding, the unit was investigating one of Perry’s signature achievements, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, for alleged mismanagement. The grand jury indicted include abuse of official capacity, which carries a penalty of five to 99 years in prison, and coercion of a public servant, which carries a penalty of two to 10 years. Perry said Saturday that as governor, he is constitutionally within his rights to veto funding for any office. “I exercise the authority to veto funding for an office whose leadership has lost the public’s confidence by acting inappropriately and unethically,” said Perry. “I intend to fight against those that that would erode our state constitution and laws purely for political purposes.” Perry added that he will continue to focus on his governorship and focus particularly closely on border security. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, both likely contenders against Perry for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, have voiced their [support for the governor](http://time.com/3124790/ted-cruz-bobby-jindal-rick-perry/). Special Prosecutor Michael McCrum, a noted San Antonio criminal defense attorney who led the indictment against Perry, told reporters he will be working with the governor’s attorney to set up a time for Perry to be arraigned and booked. “I feel confident with the charges that have been filed,” he said. ## Transcript I whole- heartedly and unequivocally stand behind my veto. Texas Governor Rick Perry has responded to his felony indictment by a Texas grand jury in no uncertain terms. Calling it a politically motivated farce and an abuse of power. This is not the way that we settle differences, political differences, in this country. You don't do it with indictments, we settle our political differences at the ballot box. A number of prominent conservatives have come to Perry's defense, including some potential 2016 rivals. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz characterized Perry as a friend and a man of integrity. Saying he was proud to support him and calling the indictment highly suspect. Former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, said the indictment seemed politically motivated. While, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal called it a silly partisan lawsuit. Perry also has at least some backing from President Obama's former senior adviser, David Axelrod, who called the indictment pretty sketchy. The indictment in question alleges Perry violated the Texas constitution by threatening to defund Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. Public Integrity Unit, if she didn't resign. In his threat to defund the Public Integrity Unit, Perry sighted Lehmberg's arrest and conviction for driving while intoxicated. But critics say it was actually a move to control one of the few state offices held by a democrat. Following the indictment many outlets questioned whether it would hurt Perry's chances as a potential presidential candidate for 2016. After his ill- fated 2012 campaign. But before talk of the indictment's political fallout, it's worth noting, 2016 is still a ways off. And Perry's odds aren't all that great to begin with. FiveThirtyEight notes Perry's polling numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire are down significantly from 2012. And. Perry's repeated gaffes in 2012 would have made it difficult for the GOP establishment to support him again in 2016. Perry is expected to soon turn himself into jail. 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