Rick Perry Attorneys Ask Judge To Dismiss Charges Against Governor

Texas Gov. Rick Perry gestures as he speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, about that he would be open to sending U.S. combat forces to Iraq to fight the deadly Islamic state after... Texas Gov. Rick Perry gestures as he speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, about that he would be open to sending U.S. combat forces to Iraq to fight the deadly Islamic state after its attacks on a Christian minority and the beheading of an American journalist and border security. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) MORE LESS
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Attorneys for Texas Gov. Rick Perry are asking a judge to dismiss criminal charges alleging that the possible 2016 presidential candidate abused his power with a veto last summer.

Perry’s attorneys filed the motion Monday in district court in Austin. They say the law being used to prosecute Perry is unconstitutionally vague.

Perry is accused of leveraging his veto power to try to oust a Democratic district attorney whose office oversees the state’s Public Integrity Unit. Perry cut off $7.5 million in state funds to the unit — which prosecutes public corruption in Texas — when Rosemary Lehmberg refused to resign following a drunken driving arrest.

He’s charged with abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant. If convicted, Perry could face a maximum 109 years in prison.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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