Prosecutor: Perry threatening grand jurors

A special prosecutor says that Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is threatening members of a grand jury that indicted him charges that he abused his powers.

At issue are Perry’s public remarks after his indictment, where he claimed his innocence and said that “this farce of a prosecution will be revealed for it is and those responsible will be held accountable.”

{mosads}Michael McCrum, the special prosecutor, said in a court filing made public Monday that those comments “struck many listeners as a threat against the members of the grand jury and all of those associated with the grand jury process,” according to Bloomberg News.

“The state has a good faith basis to protect witnesses who appeared before the grand jury, who would similarly be in the category of those who be ‘held accountable’ by the governor,” McCrum wrote in the documents, according to the report.

Bloomberg reported that McCrum asked a Texas judge in the newest court filing to deny Perry’s request for the grand jury’s transcripts.

McCrum didn’t respond to a request for comment. Perry’s office couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

A grand jury indicted Perry in August on felony counts of abusing power and coercion of a public official. Critics say he tried to use his powers as governor to force the resignation of District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, a Democrat, after she pleaded guilty to driving under the influence.

Perry had vowed to withhold funding from Lehmberg’s agency if she didn’t resign, claiming she had lost the public’s trust.

The governor was booked on the charges in August and had his mug shot taken. He raised funds off his mug shot and has dismissed the indictment as politically motivated.

The 2012 GOP presidential contender has not closed the door on another run for the White House.