Former Panel Chair Says Perry's Office Pressured Him On Death Penalty Probe (TPM)

[struggle4progress]

TPMMuckraker
Former Panel Chair Says Perry's Office Pressured Him On Death Penalty Probe
Zachary Roth | October 12, 2009, 10:11AM

It's starting to look more and more like Texas governor Rick Perry orchestrated an effort to thwart a state probe into an arson investigation that may have led to the execution of an innocent man.

Sam Bassett -- the former chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, who Perry declined to reappoint last month -- is now saying that Perry's aides tried to pressure him over the direction of the inquiry his panel was conducting into the steps that led to the 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for arson. Perry, as governor, signed off on the execution, despite clear evidence that the investigation was flawed.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/cameron-todd-willingham/2009/10/

For links to some recent stories, see this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=180&topic_id=60539&mesg_id=60539

[annabanana]

1. I'm wondering why he bothers. I understand that Texas is PROUD of

it's "shoot first ask questions later" heritage.

[struggle4progress]

3. I think he set out to do diligent work with his commission and felt blind-sided that he was

suddenly yanked from his post. This is a running story in Texas. I posted a number of excerpts and links here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=180&topic_id=60539&mesg_id=60539

[bertman]

2. "It's starting to look more and more . . ." Not really. It's looked like that from the gitgo.

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