his veto last summer of state funds for public corruption prosecutors. He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday shortly after he was fingerprinted and had his mug shot taken.

Perry shrugged off the pair of indictments, saying he was "very confident" in his case and quoting Democratic pundits who have suggested the charges were politically motivated.

Perry, whose 2012 presidential bid collapsed under the weight of his gaffes, is testing his political viability. He is heading to New Hampshire, the first in the nation primary state, for two days and then traveling to South Carolina next week.

In his speech, Perry described the militants as one of the most serious threats to Americans after attacks on a Christian minority and the beheading of an American journalist.

He also raised the prospect of membersto the accusation of misuse of public funds is permissible.”

Responding to the court decision, German prosecutors said they would soon decide whether to authorize the extradition of Puigdemont, who was arrested in March while traveling through Germany.

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The German court decision comes after Spain’s new Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with the new pro-independence Catalan leader Quim Torra on Tuesday in a move aimed at easing tensions between Barcelona and Madrid.

In response to the ruling, Sanchez said he respected judicial rulings on Puigdemont, whether it was from Germany, Belgium or Spain, but he said the former leader would need to be tried in Spain for his part in the secession push.

The charge of misuse of public funds carries a maximum prison sentence of eight