Post by pavel on Apr 18, 2016 3:04:31 GMT -6
If embattled Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is prosecuted for misusing government funds, his trial would be in Travis County, officials said Friday, despite a new law that sends some corruption cases against state officials and employees to their home counties.
Before December, the public integrity unit in the Travis County district attorney's office investigated and prosecuted alleged corruption by state officials and employees. House Bill 1690 changed that, moving investigation of accusations such as bribery, gifts to public servants, perjury and tampering with government records to the Texas Rangers, a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Under the new law, charges can be brought in the official or employee's home county.
The Rangers are investigating Miller for two February 2015 trips he reportedly took on the state's dime. Liberal advocacy group Progress Texas requested an investigation into Miller's state-paid trips, following reports that he participated in a rodeo and received an injection called the "Jesus Shot" while he was supposed to be on the job.
But if Miller's case leads to a prosecution, it wouldn't be heard in his home county of Erath because the events in question occurred before the new law took effect in December, officials from DPS and the Travis County district attorney's office told the Tribune.
Before December, the public integrity unit in the Travis County district attorney's office investigated and prosecuted alleged corruption by state officials and employees. House Bill 1690 changed that, moving investigation of accusations such as bribery, gifts to public servants, perjury and tampering with government records to the Texas Rangers, a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Under the new law, charges can be brought in the official or employee's home county.
The Rangers are investigating Miller for two February 2015 trips he reportedly took on the state's dime. Liberal advocacy group Progress Texas requested an investigation into Miller's state-paid trips, following reports that he participated in a rodeo and received an injection called the "Jesus Shot" while he was supposed to be on the job.
But if Miller's case leads to a prosecution, it wouldn't be heard in his home county of Erath because the events in question occurred before the new law took effect in December, officials from DPS and the Travis County district attorney's office told the Tribune.