BTW, since nobody else has come right out and said it, I will.
This case involves a politico meddling with the agency that investigates ethics complaints against politicos and their financial supporters. Perry could have vetoed almost any other item in the state budget without raising such a red flag.
IF it can be shown that he used the power of the Governor's office to interfere with the investigation and prosecution of a political supporter/ally, the charges are justified. None of us know whether the prosecution has evidence of that or not.
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I would question the source, but it is directly quoting Dershowitz here:
http://www.newsmax.com/newswidget/dershowitz-perry-indictment-outraged/2014/08/16/id/589179/
"This is another example of the criminalization of party differences," said Dershowitz, a prominent scholar on United States constitutional law and criminal law who writes the "Legally Speaking" column for Newsmax. "This idea of an indictment is an extremely dangerous trend in America, whether directed at [former House Majority Leader] Tom DeLay or [former President] Bill Clinton."
Further, Dershowitz said, such indictments are something that's done in totalitarian countries and should not be done in the United States.
In such countries, "if you don't like them, you indict," Dershowitz said. "In America, you vote against them...this should be up to the voters. There is no room in America for abuse of office charges, and this has to stop once and for all. This is a serious problem."
And indicting a politician, rather than fighting back through a ballot box, "is so un-American."
Dershowitz also told Newsmax Perry was well within his rights when he vetoed the money for Lehmberg's office, as he "saw a drunk serving as DA" who "shouldn't be enforcing criminal law."
Dershowitz believes Perry will be acquitted, and the indictment will become an embarrassment to those involved.
Perry is often named as a potential candidate for the GOP nomination in 2016, and has opted not to seek a fourth term as governor of Texas. Dershowitz said he hopes the legal charges are resolved long before the presidential election campaign cycle begins.
"It's just ridiculous the extremes some prosecutors will go to," when they seek criminal charges in retribution for actions that they don't agree with politically," Dershowitz said.
If you are ever charged with blackmail/extortion, I strongly advise you not to try that as a defense.
