Texas Governor Perry indicted over abuse-of-power allegations

Texas Governor Rick Perry, a potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate, has been indicted by a grand jury over allegations he abused his power, prompting calls for him to resign.

A special prosecutor spent months calling witnesses and presenting evidence that Perry broke the law when he promised publicly to nix US$7.5 million over two years for the public integrity unit, which is run by Travis County Democratic District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg's office. Lehmberg was convicted of drink driving, but refused Perry's calls to resign.

Perry's general counsel, Mary Anne Wiley, on Friday defended the governor's action.

"The veto in question was made in accordance with the veto authority afforded to every governor under the Texas constitution," she said. "We will continue to aggressively defend the governor's lawful and constitutional action and believe we will ultimately prevail."

Several top aides to the Republican governor appeared before grand jurors in Austin, including his deputy chief of staff, legislative director and general counsel.

Perry did not testify, though. Grand jurors indicted Perry on abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony with potential punishments of five to 99 years in prison, and coercion of a public servant, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years.

The move immediately triggered calls by rival Democrats for Perry to quit.