Austin: the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, on Thursday granted a full pardon to an ex-U.S. Army Sgt. who was convicted. On June 2020, a protester armed with a gun was shot and killed during nation-wide protests against police brutality and racial injustice.
Abbott’s announcement came only a few minutes after the board of Texas had announced the pardon. Parrolls’ pardon he will receive his weapon rights reinstated as well as given a unanimous recommendation from Pardon Board to reinstate Daniel Perry’s rights and pardon him.
Prior to this, Republican Abbott had tasked the committee with reviewing Perry’s case and promised them that he would sign any pardons that they recommended. Under the Texas law, however, it is not possible for the governor to grant pardons unless a recommendation is proposed by such commission established by the Governor.
According to Abbott; “Texas has one of the strongest ‘stand your ground’ self-defense laws that cannot be struck down by either jury or progressive district attorney.”
This pardon is being blasted by Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza who said that “It mocks our legal system.”
“They put politics before justice,” said Garza about the board and Governor. “They should be ashamed of themselves for violating our statutes and showing us in this state that some individuals are worth less than others while Garrett Foster’s family has been left in no doubt neither his partner nor our community for whom life meant nothing.”
Abbott appealed to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson for assistance with Perry’s case. The governor intervened.
Perry could have driven away without shooting at all according to prosecutors who argued; witnesses testified they never saw Foster raise a gun; Foster did raise his rifle according to defense lawyer of sheriff no choice but shoot him because he raised it (Perry is Caucasian); jury deliberated two days before finding him guilty since Perry did not appear in court.
He did not immediately reply when asked for comment by Perry’s counsel.
This was during 2020 when heated debates followed after the death of a black man in Minneapolis by a white police officer, this resulted into countrywide protests. Three years down the line, Perry’s sentence provoked uproar among prominent conservatives.
Carlson aired his show “It was self-defense” as well as criticizing Abbott for never having appeared on it before he was sentenced. On the following day, Abbott stated that he thought Perry should not be punished which led to Texas Parole Board being asked to fast track their review of his conviction.
Abbott appointed the Board of Pardons and Paroles mandated under state law to recommend a pardon before him. He could act as required.
Following the verdict but prior to sentencing Perry, court released dozens pages of texts messages and social media posts showing his violent views about Black Lives Matter protests. A month before the shooting happened, Perry posted on Facebook that: “I’m officially racist because I don’t agree with people acting like animals at zoos.”
Perry had served in the army for more than 10 years. According to forensic psychologist who testified at trial, Perry has got Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from Afghanistan deployment and bullying during childhood. When Foster was shot, he stationed at Fort Cavazot and later Fort Hood located around 70 miles north Austin.
