Lawmaker Appears Before Grand Jury in Perry Probe

Rep. Phil King is appearing before the grand jury investigating whether Texas Gov. Rick Perry abused his power by making good on a veto threat.

The Weatherford Republican entered the room at the Austin courthouse where the grand jury is meeting Friday. Asked why he was there, King said only, "You probably know."

A special prosecutor is investigating whether Perry abused his power by threatening to veto $7.5 million for the state public integrity unit run by the Travis County district attorney's office.

Perry said he would cut funding if District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg stayed in office after pleading guilty to drunken driving. She refused to resign, and Perry issued a veto.

Before that, King had led unsuccessful GOP-backed legislative efforts to remove the public integrity unit from Lehmberg's office.