Texas Governor Sparks Outcry in Rush to Pardon Army Sergeant Who Killed Protester

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for an expedited pardon of an Army sergeant less than a week after a jury convicted him of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester.
The governor's actions contradict his previous statements on the importance of jury trials and risk undermining the justice system, critics argue.
Abbott said Daniel Perry acted in self-defense, but eyewitnesses disputed that claim in court and Perry was found guilty of killing Garrett Foster during protests against police violence in 2020.
Foster's widow said Abbott's push to pardon Perry erased the little closure the trial's outcome offered and warned his actions normalize violence.
Legal experts criticized Abbott's interference in an ongoing case and said his pattern of pardoning violent offenders risks emboldening extremists.