"Texas Governor's Pardon Request Sparks Controversy in Criminal Justice System"

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's call for a pardon recommendation for U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murdering a man protesting police brutality in Austin, has been criticized as a political move to score points with the far right and extend his power over the judicial system. Abbott's request is unprecedented, as he appears to be telling the Board of Pardons and Paroles how to rule, indicating he intends to pardon Perry. The move has thrown Perry's still-unresolved criminal case into a frenzy, and attorneys say they cannot recall any instance in which a governor essentially instructed the board to give him the recommendation he needs to legally pardon a defendant.