Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has hired Mark Fabiani, a former lawyer for President Bill Clinton, to help fight criminal charges against him.
“I’m proud to join Gov. Perry’s outstanding team which has been assembled to fight back against this attack on the rule of law,” Fabiani said in a statement, first reported on Monday by Politico’s Mike Allen.
Fabiani is an interesting addition for Perry. He was special counsel and legal spokesman in the Clinton White House from 1994 to 1996, defending the ex-president against Republican investigations over Whitewater and campaign finance. He later served as a top spokesman for Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign, playing a key role during the recount. More recently Fabiani worked for Lance Armstrong while the cyclist was facing allegations of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Perry has snagged other big names for his legal team, a sign that the rumored 2016 presidential hopeful is taking the indictment very seriously. Last week he hired Ben Ginsberg, a former lawyer to George W. Bush who was also an important figure during the 2000 recount.
The governor insists he’s innocent and has called the allegations — which stem from his use of veto power — a “farce.” On Monday his legal team asked a judge to dismiss the charges.
