austin texas texas court criminal appeal wednesday dismiss abuse power indictment rick perry end case drag former texas governor unsuccessful bid 2016 republican presidential nomination perry campaign nomination 2012 2016 face first-degree felony charge state court could bring 99 years prison fund veto make 2013 see intend force texas county district attorney resign act prosecute veto prosecution violate separation power court say long serve governor texas history perry 65 indict two charge august 2014 grand jury travis county democratic stronghold heavily republican state court decision today prove indictment nothing less baseless political attack perry tell news conference always know action take lawful legal right first threaten veto 7.5 million integrity unit travis county district attorney office many say perry play hardball politics force county district attorney rosemary lehmberg democrat plead guilty drunken drive july 2015 texas state appeal court throw less charge perry coercion public official leave abuse-of-power charge lawyers perry whose term end start 2015 argue governor act within power make fund cut prosecutor case say perry act unlawfully pressure lehmberg threaten fund cut lehmberg remain office september 2015 perry struggle raise money languish near bottom presidential opinion poll become first member crowd republican field drop 2016 white house race campaign trail perry try rally support among republican voters say indictment result partisan attack democrats analysts note however threat trial campaign likely scar away major donors doom campaign see long-shot perry drop gaffe-filled campaign 2012 republican presidential nomination texas court dismiss indictment former governor rick perry