Governor Abbott Seeks Expedited Pardon Review for Convicted Army Sergeant in Austin Protester Shooting
Governor Greg Abbott requested the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to expedite their consideration of a pardon for Daniel Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant convicted of the 2020 murder of Austin protester Garrett Foster. The announcement came a day after a Travis County jury found Perry guilty following eight days of trial and 17 hours of deliberation. Perry, an Uber driver at the time, shot and killed Foster, who was carrying an AK-47 during a protest against police brutality near the Capitol in downtown Austin.
Amid conservative pressure, Governor Abbott asked the parole board for an expedited review of Perry's conviction. He stated that the Texas Constitution requires a recommendation from the parole board before a governor can grant a pardon. Abbott tweeted his eagerness to approve the recommendation once it reached his desk.
Abbott emphasized that Texas has strong "Stand Your Ground" laws that cannot be overridden by a jury or a progressive District Attorney, referring to the criticism aimed at Travis County's Democratic District Attorney, José Garza. Prior to Abbott's announcement, the Republican Party of Texas and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson had called for the governor's intervention.
In recent years, Abbott granted several pardons based on parole board recommendations, mostly for lower-level offenses. Perry's defense argued that the shooting was justified under the state's "Stand Your Ground" law, which allows the use of deadly force by those who feel endangered.
Governor Abbott's announcement also highlighted legislation aimed at curbing the power of locally elected prosecutors, particularly in Texas' largest, left-leaning counties. While many Republicans praised Abbott's decision, state Senator Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat, criticized the move as a dangerous disregard for the rule of law, which could encourage further armed confrontations and tragic outcomes.
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