AUSTIN, Texas – An arrest warrant will not be issued for Gov. Rick Perry amid allegations that he abused his power by trying to pressure a district attorney to resign.
According to the Travis County District Court and CNN, Perry is not required to turn himself into police. Instead, a judge issued a summons, which means Perry does not have to surrender to be fingerprinted and photographed before his criminal case can proceed.
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The summons also means the special prosecutor and Perry's defense attorney will determine a convenient date for the governor to appear in court. A summons letter will be sent to Perry telling him when to appear. A date has yet to be set.
Perry was indicted by a Travis County grand jury on Friday on two felony counts stemming from his threat to veto funding for a statewide public integrity unit run by Travis Country District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, a Democrat, unless she stepped down, according to the special prosecutor in the case, Michael McCrum.
The case centers on Perry's June 2013 veto of the $7.5 million budget for the unit run by Lehmberg, after she refused his demand to resign following her drunken driving arrest and conviction.
Perry faces accusations of coercion of a public servant and abuse of his official capacity in connection with the threat and veto.
The governor says the indictment is politically motivated.