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 Perry, a possible Republican candidate in the 2016 presidential
race, was indicted by a grand jury in Travis County with abuse of
official capacity, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public
official, a third-degree felony.
A probe was launched last year after Perry vetoed $7.5 million in
funding for an integrity unit that is part of the Travis County
District Attorney's office. The move was seen as hardball politics
to force out county District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, a Democrat,
after she pleaded guilty to drunken driving.
The indictment said Perry, "with intent to harm another, to-wit,
Rosemary Lehmberg and the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County
District Attorney's Office, intentionally or knowingly misused
government property."
Perry's General Counsel, Mary Anne Wiley, said the veto was made in
accordance with veto authority afforded under the Texas
Constitution.
 "We will continue to aggressively defend the governor's lawful and
constitutional action, and believe we will ultimately prevail," she
said.
Special prosecutor Michael McCrum said a conviction on the
first-degree felony charge could bring between 5 to 99 years in
prison. Perry will be arraigned next week, he added.
"The grand jury has spoken that there is probable cause to believe
that he committed at least two felony crimes," McCrum told
reporters.
Republicans have long charged that they have been targeted by the
Public Integrity Unit, which is in the solidly Democratic Travis
County, where left-leaning Austin is the main city. The unit has
investigated prominent Republicans including former U.S. House of
Representatives Majority Leader Tom Delay.
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Perry in recent months has been traveling to Republican battleground
states and party gatherings in what analysts said were visits that
have helped him scout the political landscape for a possible
presidential run.
Perry, the longest-serving governor in the state's history, was
forced to exit the 2012 Republican presidential race after several
gaffes including when he lost his train of thought during a debate
and could not recall which government departments he wanted to
abolish.
He is not seeking re-election as governor and will step down next
year.
(Additional reporting by Jim Forsyth in San Antonio; Editing by
Sandra Maler)
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