Perry asks to enter grand jury out of view
Governor would have to go through offiffice of Rosemary Lehmberg.
In advance of Gov. Rick Perry’s likely appearance before a grand jury investigating possibly criminal charges against him, the governor has asked about entering the courthouse through a back entrance, out of sight of the public and reporters.
In an ironic twist to an unusual case, the only way other than through public entrances to access the grand jury courtroom is through the offiffice of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg.
Perry is being investigated for threatening last year to withhold millions in state money from Lehmberg’s office unless she resigned following her drunken driving arrest.
Lehmberg didn’t resign, and Perry vetoed a $7.5 million, two-year appropriation to the Public Integrity Unit, housed in the district attorney’s office.
The grand jury is weighing whether the threat violated state laws, including those
prohibiting coercion, bribery and abuse of official capacity. Perry’s office has maintained that the governor did nothing wrong.
Lehmberg said Wednesday that she learned earlier this week that the governor’s lawyer asked Judge Bert Richardson, who is presiding over the grand jury proceedings, about the possibility of allowing Perry to enter the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center through a nonpublic entrance.
“My first reaction to that is that there is indeed a way to get to the grand jury through back doors and not be in public view through the parking garage, where the judges and I park — but then only through my office,” Lehmberg told the American-Statesman.
“I responded by saying that that is not something we routinely do,” Lehmberg said. “My belief was that people should come through the grand jury all alike, and that is through the front door of the building and make the short walk from the front door through the lobby to the grand jury room.”
“I don’t see any reason for secrecy because the governor’s staff clearly has testimony to give in this case, and we’ve had many public officials come to the grand jury, and everyone comes through the same front door, and that was my response.
“I think it is awkward that it is being asked of me, but I will do what’s appropriate,” Lehmberg said.
Richardson declined to comment. Neither Perry’s office nor his lawyer, David Botsford, responded to requests for comment.
Images in the media of Perry arriving to testify in the matter would be a reminder that he’s facing potential legal trouble just as he’s largely repaired his national image following embarrassing stumbles during his 2012 presidential bid.
Since announcing last year he would not run for re-election, he’s traveled extensively promoting Texas as a business destination and model of red state governance, and he is once again being taken seriously as a possible presidential candidate.
The grand jury began hearing witnesses last month. Officials have said that the panel’s work could take several months.
Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said earlier that his veto was made “in accor- dance with the veto power afforded to every governor under the Texas Constitution. As we have from the beginning, we remain ready and willing to assist with this inquiry.”
Craig McDonald, head of the watchdog group Texans for Public Justice, which brought the original complaint against Perry, said Wednesday that he hadn’t heard about Perry’s request, but “it is no surprise that he would try to keep his face out of the news related to these potential criminal charges.”
McDonald also wondered why Lehmberg would do Perry any favors.
“I hope the governor offered to restore her budget if she honors his request,” McDonald joked.