Texas Democratic Party: Moving Texas Forward

When Gov. Rick Perry took the oath of office, he swore to “preserve, protect and defend” the laws and people of Texas. The governor might as well have sworn to preserve, protect and defend his political interests at all costs, because every time he has to choose between doing what’s best for Texans or his politics, Perry chooses himself.

This fall, Perry is at it again, spurring concerns about a political cover-up by abruptly replacing three Texas Forensic Science Commission members without warning just days before they were to conduct a hearing into evidence used in the Cameron Todd Willingham arson case. Apparently fearing revelations that might hurt his campaign, Perry’s action forced the hearing to be postponed indefinitely, sealing the evidence in a conspiracy of silence.

As the millions who watch “CSI” know, advances in forensic science provide better evidence to make sure we convict and punish the bad guys and not the innocent. The central issue involved is not Willingham or the death penalty. When Willingham was executed five years ago, his case was closed, but respected experts had raised serious questions about the forensic evidence used to convict him.

Perry signed into law the legislation creating the commission in 2005. Its purpose: “justice through science.” The commission was simply trying to do its job by examining the evidence used to convict Willingham to make sure Texans have the benefit of the best forensic science available.

The commission was scheduled to hear a forensic science report from a nationally renowned arson expert that raised the possibility that an innocent man was executed on Perry’s watch. Instead of addressing the matter openly, Perry has since refused to release public documents about his role in the Willingham case, attacked the experts and ignored reporters’ questions about the importance of forensic science evidence in criminal investigations.

To read more go to the Austin American Statesman.