In a move that has sparked controversy, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has granted a full pardon to former U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was serving a 25-year sentence for the fatal shooting of an armed demonstrator during the 2020 nationwide protests against police violence and racial injustice.
The pardon was announced shortly after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously recommended that Perry be pardoned and have his firearms rights restored. Perry, who was convicted in 2023, was released from state prison following the pardon.
The incident in question occurred when Perry, who was working as a ride-share driver, encountered a demonstration in Austin. Perry, who is white, fatally shot Garrett Foster, a white Air Force veteran who witnesses claimed never raised his weapon. Perry's defense team argued that Foster did raise his rifle, leaving Perry with no choice but to shoot in self-defense.
Governor Abbott, a Republican serving his third term, has typically issued pardons only for minor offenses. His decision to pardon Perry has been met with criticism, with Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza condemning the pardon as a “mockery of our legal system.”
“The board and the governor have put their politics over justice,” Garza said. “Their actions are contrary to the law and demonstrate that there are two classes of people in this state where some lives matter and some lives do not."
The pardon has also been met with outrage from Foster's girlfriend, Whitney Mitchell, who was with Foster at the time of his death. She called the pardon an act of “lawlessness,” stating that the governor's decision implies that Texans with differing political views can be killed with impunity.
The governor defended his decision, citing Texas' strong 'Stand Your Ground' laws. “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,” Abbott said.
The case has been a source of fierce debate since the shooting occurred amid the demonstrations sparked by the death of George Floyd in 2020. Perry's conviction three years later prompted outrage from prominent conservatives, including former Fox News star Tucker Carlson, who urged the governor to intervene.
The pardon follows a review of Perry’s case ordered by Abbott shortly after the trial. Under Texas law, the governor cannot issue a pardon without a recommendation from the board, which the governor appoints.
Perry's attorney, Clint Broden, expressed gratitude for the pardon, stating that Perry acted in self-defense when confronted by an angry crowd and a person with an assault rifle. “Mr. Perry and his family thank the Board of Pardons and Parole for its careful review of the case and are grateful that the State of Texas has strong laws to allow its citizens to protect themselves,” Broden said.
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