Indicted Gov. Rick Perry heads to court

 

WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — As other top Texas Republicans transition into their new statewide posts, Gov. Rick Perry will make his first court appearance in a felony case casting a pall over his final months in office.

 

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Perry was allowed to skip two previous pretrial hearings but will be present Thursday at an Austin courthouse.

 

Eying a 2016 White House run, Perry wants the matter quashed quickly. Judge Bert Richardson should rule on his request for the case’s dismissal on technicalities and seeking transcription of secret testimony grand jurors heard.

 

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But Richardson was elected Tuesday to the Court of Criminal Appeals and may not handle Perry’s case much longer.

 

An Austin grand jury in August indicted Perry on two abuse of power charges related to his veto of state funding for public corruption prosecutors.

 

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