AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — One of two felony indictments against former Texas Gov. Rick Perry was tossed out Friday, giving the Republican presidential candidate a potentially huge legal victory in the face of flagging polling numbers for the 2016 race.
The 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin sided with Perry’s high-powered legal team, stating in a 96-page ruling that the charge of coercion of a public servant essentially constituted a violation of the former governor’s free speech rights.
Perry was indicted last August on the coercion charge and a separate charge of abuse of official power, which wasn’t affected by the ruling.