BREAKING: Greg Abbott Announces He Will Pardon Daniel Perry After Murder Conviction
Moments ago, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced he will work to pardon the former Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murdering a BLM protestor during the 2020 riots.
“I am working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry,” Gov. Abbott announced in a tweet posted Saturday.
His tweet contained a statement that explained how the Texas Constitution allows the Governor to issue a pardon if it is recommended or approved by the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The Republican governor is waiting for his pardon request to be approved.
The full statement reads:
Texas has one of the strongest “Stand Your Ground” laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney.
Unlike the President or some other states, the Texas Constitution limits the Governor’s pardon authority to only act on a recommendation by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Texas law DOES allow the Governor to request the Board of Pardons and Paroles to determine if a person should be granted a pardon. I have made that request and instructed the Board to expedite its review.
I look forward to approving the Board’s pardon recommendation as soon as it hits my desk. Additionally, I have already prioritized reining in rogue District Attorneys, and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal.
In July 2020, Perry shot and killed a BLM protestor in Austin, Texas. Police reported Perry was driving for Uber in downtown Austin when a massive throng of protestors illegally circled and blocked his car.
Perry’s lawyers claim the protestors began hitting Perry’s car and one protestor, Garrett Foster, was armed with an AK-47.
Perry said he began firing at Foster once he raised his AK-47 at Perry. “When Garrett Foster pointed his AK-47 at Daniel Perry, Daniel had two tenths of a second to defend himself. He chose to live,” Perry’s attorney told Fox News.
“It may be legal in Texas to carry an assault rifle in downtown Austin. It doesn’t make it a good idea. If you point a firearm at someone, you’re responsible for everything that happens next,” the attorney added.
Video of the incident can be seen below:
Perry was convicted guilty of murder on Friday.
