--- title: Rick Perry Booked in Politically Charged Abuse of Power Case description: The Texas governor faces two felony charges canonical: https://time.com/3145951/rick-perry-power-abuse-case/ author: Zeke Miller article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-08-19T22:23:31.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:05:33.300Z article:section: Politics og:title: Rick Perry Booked in Politically Charged Abuse of Power Case og:description: The Texas governor faces two felony charges og:url: https://time.com/3145951/rick-perry-power-abuse-case/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt81e9dd237bb42dcb/6986a01e55a8593ca3a82397/8-19-2014-james-richard-perry-booking-photo.jpg?branch=production&width=480&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 480 og:image:height: 270 og:image:alt: Rick Perry Mugshot og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Rick Perry Booked in Politically Charged Abuse of Power Case twitter:description: The Texas governor faces two felony charges twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt81e9dd237bb42dcb/6986a01e55a8593ca3a82397/8-19-2014-james-richard-perry-booking-photo.jpg?branch=production&width=480&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Rick Perry Booked in Politically Charged Abuse of Power Case > 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=1b791bf5-4585-4355-bdf8-16fe646062b3&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: RickPAC: Setting the Record Straight [Watch (HLS stream): RickPAC: Setting the Record Straight](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9xndUC0S.m3u8) (2:08)  _Published 2014-08-20. RickPAC: Setting the Record Straight_ by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Aug 19, 2014 10:23 PM UTC  Texas Gov. Rick Perry gets booked on abuse of power charges at the Travis County Sheriff's Department in Austin, on Aug. 19, 2014. Texas Gov. Rick Perry gets booked on abuse of power charges at the Travis County Sheriff's Department in Austin, on Aug. 19, 2014. Travis County Sheriff's Department by [Zeke Miller](https://time.com/author/zeke-j-miller/) ## Zeke Miller Aug 19, 2014 10:23 PM UTC Texas Gov. Rick Perry turned himself in at the Travis County Courthouse Tuesday on two felony charges of abuse of power. Perry, who has vowed to contest the charges stemming from a threat and ultimate veto of funding to the state’s public integrity unit, surrendered himself to Sheriff’s deputies to be fingerprinted and have his mug shot taken. Perry is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday. Outside the courthouse, Perry allies protested the indictment handed down by a grand jury Friday evening. “I am here today because I believe in the rule of law,” Perry told a crowd of cheering supporters before entering the courthouse. “And I am here today because I did the right thing.” Perry was indicted for threatening and then ultimately vetoing funding for the unit after its head, District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated. Perry demanded that Lehmberg resign and, when she refused, vetoed the funding. “I am going to enter this courthouse with my head held high knowing the actions I took were not only lawful and legal, but also right,” he added. The governor and potential 2016 presidential candidate has hired a high-priced legal team and deployed his political machine in his defense, which has become a rallying point for Republicans across the country. Democrats, including former Obama strategist David Axelrod, have also expressed doubts about the merits of the prosecution. Perry cast the criminal complaint as “an attack on our system of government,” arguing it was well within his rights to veto the funding. “If I had to do so, I would veto funding for the public integrity unit again,” he said. “I’m going to fight this injustice with every fiber of my being,” Perry said before turning to enter the courthouse. “And we will prevail.” Perry’s political action committee, RickPAC, released a new video defending the veto Tuesday. After he left the courthouse, Perry tweeted that he went to purchase an ice cream cone. > [](https://twitter.com/GovernorPerry/status/501864028764110848) ## Transcript As D. A. you need someone you can trust to see that justice is administered fairly. The mission of my office is to see that justice is done. Travis County's top prosecutor, the D. A ., driving while intoxicated. The Lexus. Was weaving into oncoming traffic. Her blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. She resisted during the pat down, a spit mask placed over her head. She attempted to scratch and grab an officer. From putting people behind bars, to being behind bars herself. The cry is growing. [ INAUDIBLE ] For her to step down. She should resin without question. DA Lehmberg has said she will not resign. Governor Perry vetoed funding of a specific group within the district attorney's office. His actions are protected veto powers under Texas constitutional law. [ MUSIC ] We don't settle political differences with indictments in this country. I exercise this authority, to veto funding for an office whose leadership had lost the public's confidence by acting inappropriately. And unethically. Who conducted themselves in an incredibly inappropriate way. Stopped for a D- W- I with a blood alcohol level almost 3 times the legal limit. An individual who when booked in had to be restrained, was abusive to law enforcement, was kicking in the door. I wholeheartedly and unequivocally stand behind my veto. 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