Everything You Need to Know* About Rick Perry’s Newest Scandal (*But were afraid to ask)
These days, were hearing increasingly less from Gov. Rick Perry. Its his last year in office, and hes been taking it easyhaving fun in the South Pacific while his would-be competitors in the 2016 presidential primary flame out in spectacular fashion.
He may not keep that low profile for that much longer, though. A little scandal from the doldrums of last summer is roaring back to life, and Perry faces the threat of criminal charges over accusations that he tried to force the Travis County district attorney to resign. Theres the added intrigue over the allegation that Perrys aim was to kill an investigation into the scandal-plagued Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Its one little thread in the well-worn sweater of Gov. Perrys long tenure in office, but it threatens to damage his presidential ambitions.
With stories like these, which build up and fade over long periods of time, its difficult to follow whats really going on. Many peopleincluding more than a few national reportersseemed surprised to learn this week that the longest-serving governor in Texas history may be facing indictment. We hope this primer helps catch you up on the story so far.
So howd all this start?
Like many schemes, it started with vodka. Rosemary Lehmberg had been serving as Travis County DA for a little more than four years when, late on the night of April 12, 2013, she was pulled over near Lake Travis, west of Austin. Police found an open vodka bottle in the car and arrested her. She verbally berated the arresting officers, and she didnt stop the verbal abuse when she got to jail. Lehmberg was strapped into a restraining chair. Hours after her arrest, she blew a .239, almost three times the legal limit.
More at http://www.texasobserver.org/everything-wanted-know-rick-perrys-new-scandal/ .