Prosecutor says Perry makes 'mockery' of system

AUSTIN — The special prosecutor in the criminal case against Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday that Perry is asking for “special favors” and that his activities are making a mockery of the justice system.

“I don't think there's any reason why Mr. Perry should be treated any differently from any other citizen who's required to be in court,” special prosecutor Michael McCrum said of a request by Perry's lawyers that he be allowed to skip a pre-trial hearing.“He's asking for special favors, and as far as I'm concerned, he's not entitled to it,” said McCrum, a San Antonio lawyer.

McCrum added, “I've never seen a defendant make such a mockery of our system of justice.” He pointed to Perry having a rally at the courthouse when he was booked and citing him “smirking.”

Perry, who is eyeing a 2016 presidential run, has been outspoken in suggesting his indictment was politically motivated.

Perry lawyer Anthony Buzbee of Houston suggested that it wasn't proper for the prosecutor “to take potshots at the sitting governor in the newspaper.” He maintained that “the indictment is mockery of the system, and it needs to be dismissed.”

“I'm a little bit baffled that somebody who is supposed to be standing in the shoes of the Travis County DA is making comments in the newspaper about Gov. Perry's facial expressions or anything else. It would seem to me probably improper,” Buzbee said in an interview.

Perry has been indicted on two felony counts that accuse him of abusing his veto power. The case stems from his threat last year to kill funding for the public-corruption unit overseen by Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg unless she resigned after a messy drunken-driving arrest. She pleaded guilty and served time but stayed on the job, and Perry vetoed the money.

McCrum, a former federal prosecutor and well-known defense attorney, was named special prosecutor by Senior Judge Bert Richardson of San Antonio, who is presiding over the case, after Lehmberg recused herself.

McCrum has been paid $300 an hour for his work in the case and has submitted invoices totaling $97,796.50, according to the Travis County attorney's office.

McCrum has picked a second lawyer to help in the case, Austin lawyer David Gonzalez. He has suggested his fee could be cut to $250 an hour to help cover the cost of paying Gonzalez, who would be paid the same amount.

State taxpayers' cost for private lawyers to represent Perry has totaled more than $132,000 — much of it for well-known defense lawyer David Botsford, who was paid $450 an hour. After his indictment, Perry beefed up his legal team and decided to pay his attorneys in the case from his campaign funds.

pfikac@express-news.net

Twitter: @pfikac