Texas Governor Rick Perry Calls Indictment "Outrageous"
While making a statement in Austin on Saturday, Texas governor Rick Perry spoke out against his legal issues, having been indicted Friday on two charges of abuse of power. Perry, who according to reports appeared defiant, called the indictment "outrageous."
The Associated Press reports that Perry announced in his statement that he fully intends to complete his final term in January.
"We don't settle political differences with indictments in this country," Perry said. "It is outrageous that someone would use political theatrics to rip away at the very fabric of our state's constitution."
Perry was indicted by a Travis County grand jury on Friday for following through on a plan to veto funds to a Democrat district attorney, Rosemary Lehmberg, who refused to resign after a drunk-driving incident. The indictment alleges that Perry abused his power as a way to leverage a resignation out of Lehmberg.
Perry claims he was transparent on his decision:
"The details of my decision-making were very clear. I said early on that I was going to clearly veto those dollars as long as they had someone in that office who I had lost confidence in," Perry said. "And I had lost confidence."
In his statement, Perry reportedly reacted with confidence and said that the indictment was a "farce of prosecution" and there would be accountability for those responsible. According to KXAN, if Perry is found guilty on the charges, he could face up to 109 years in prison.
[Image via AP]