Will Hailer

In Texas, we follow the rules. We don't bend them; we don't break them. On Friday, Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry was indicted on two felony charges of coercion and abuse of power. While Republicans have been defending Perry, calling the indictment "flimsy," here in Texas we knew it was just a matter of time.

Why? Because Perry has created a pervasive culture of corruption in the Republican Party of Texas, starting at the top with gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott and trickling down to attorney general candidate Ken Paxton.

More than just "hardball politicking," this was abuse of power from a governor who tried to shut down the public integrity unit that is charged with investigating government corruption and fraud — an agency that was looking into whether Texas' cancer research institute funneled more than $40 million in taxpayer funds to Abbott and Perry donors, without proper oversight.

No one is arguing that Perry didn't have the right to exercise his constitutional veto authority. He did. But when Perry's threats to veto funding didn't work, Perry abused his power and attempted to coerce a public official.

Perry will continue to claim that this is a partisan witch hunt. But there wasn't a single Democrat involved in the investigation and indictment.

A Republican judge, appointed by Rick Perry, appointed another Republican judge to handle Perry's corruption case.San Antonio attorney Michael McCrum was named as special prosecutor. McCrum was a U.S. prosecutor under George H.W. Bush and was submitted for U.S. attorney by Sen. John Cornyn. And Perry was indicted by a randomly selected grand jury of his Texas peers.

Indicting a governor doesn't happen every day. The last time a governor was indicted in Texas was almost 100 years ago. And while Perry even continues his behavior as a bully by threatening that "those responsible will be held accountable," that doesn't change the fact that a jury of his peers found enough evidence to bring the governor to trial.

Gov. Perry has betrayed his fellow Texans. He has created a widespread culture of intimidation and corruption. It's time for him to step down.

Will Hailer is executive director of the Texas Democratic Party.