Judge Refuses to Toss Perry Case on Technicalities

WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas judge has refused to quash two felony indictments for abuse of power against Gov. Rick Perry on technicalities, ruling that the case against the possible 2016 presidential hopeful should continue.

The governor's defense team had sought to have the proceedings dismissed, arguing that the special prosecutor bringing them wasn't properly sworn in and some paperwork wasn't correctly filed.

But an 18-page ruling Tuesday by District Judge Bert Richardson, who like Perry is a Republican, sided with prosecutor Michael McCrum.

Perry was indicted in August. He's accused of threatening, then carrying out, a veto of funding for public corruption prosecutors after the Democrat leading the unit wouldn't resign after a drunken driving conviction.

Perry's attorneys also have questioned the case's constitutionality. No ruling on that is expected for weeks.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.