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Rick Perry indicted for abuse of power

Texas Gov. Rick Perry delivers a speech to nearly 300 in attendance at the 2014 RedState Gathering, in Fort Worth, Texas. Perry was indicted on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, for abuse of power after carrying out a threat to veto funding for state public corruption prosecutors. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)
Governor Rick Perry as he speaks at the 2014 Red State Gathering, in Fort Worth, Texas. Perry has been indicted for abuse of power after carrying out a threat to veto funding for state public corruption prosecutors. The Republican governor is accused of abusing his official powers by publicly promising to veto $7.5 million for the state public integrity unit at the Travis County District Attorney's office. He was indicted by an Austin grand jury Friday, Aug. 15. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Travis County Special prosecutor Michael McCrum announced that Texas Governor Rick Perry has been indicted by a grand jury in Austin, Texas on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. Gov. Rick Perry, 63, was charged with abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public official related to his effort last year to force District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg to resign after her drunken driving arrest. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Rodolfo Gonzalez)
Travis County Special prosecutor Michael McCrum announced that Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been indicted by a grand jury in Austin, Texas on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. Gov. Rick Perry, 63, was charged with abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public official related to his effort last year to force District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg to resign after her drunken driving arrest. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Rodolfo Gonzalez)
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By PAUL J. WEBER and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
August 15, 2014 - 5:06 pm
 

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s state attorney predicts Perry will be cleared of two felony charges handed up late Friday by a Travis County grand jury.

Perry faces two counts of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant over his use of veto power to pressure a Democratic district attorney to resign in 2013. Perry is a Republican.

Mary Anne Wiley, general counsel for Perry’s office, says he used veto powers granted under the state constitution. She says Perry’s lawyers will “aggressively defend” him and “believe we will ultimately prevail.”

Perry could face up to 99 years in prison if convicted. He’s the first Texas governor to be indicted in nearly a century.

Perry’s private attorney, David Botsford, did not immediately comment.

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