Chronicle reporter subpoenaed for Perry grand jury probe

Gov. Rick Perry

Gov. Rick Perry Photo: LM Otero, STF Photo: LM Otero, STF Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Chronicle reporter subpoenaed for Perry grand jury probe 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - The Houston Chronicle's Austin bureau chief on Thursday was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury looking into whether Gov. Rick Perry misused his authority last year in vetoing funding for the Travis County District Attorney's Public Integrity Unit.

Mike Ward, while a reporter for the Austin American-Statesman last year, broke the story that led to the grand jury investigation, which springs from Perry's promise to veto funding for the state's ethics-enforcement unit unless Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg resigned.

Officials confirmed to Ward last year that Perry intended to exercise his line-item veto of a two-year, $7.5 million allocation to the Public Integrity Unit unless Lehmberg stepped down in the wake of a drunken driving arrest.

Lehmberg did not resign, and Perry carried through on his promise, saying she had lost the public's confidence.

Texans for Public Justice, which tracks money in politics, filed a criminal complaint over Perry's veto threat, contending he violated laws against coercion of a public servant, abuse of official capacity, official oppression and, potentially, bribery. The grand jury investigation ensued.

Perry's staff said his veto was made under his constitutionally granted power.

Ward was served with the grand jury subpoena in the state Capitol rotunda by an investigator working for the special prosecutor in the case, San Antonio lawyer Michael McCrum.

McCrum told reporters last week that he had no plans at the moment to call Perry to testify before the grand jury.