Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said the felony charges he's facing in court aren't derailing his potential 2016 plans.
"We're moving right along," Perry said at a press conference on Wednesday.
Perry said he would make an announcement about his 2016 plans in the "May-June timetable."
On Tuesday, a judge refused to dismiss charges against Perry on constitutional grounds. But Perry said he's "confident" he'll successfully fight the charges.
"I am confident that I will ultimately prevail because the prosecution’s case amounts to the criminalization of politics," Perry said.
Below, more from the AP on the charges against Perry:
The decision by District Judge Bert Richardson, who like Perry is a Republican, means the case against the possible 2016 presidential hopeful can move forward. Perry left office Jan. 20 and says he will announce as soon as May whether he will make a second run for the White House.
Perry was indicted in August on charges of abuse of official power and coercion of a public servant. He is accused of publicly threatening — then making good on — a 2013 veto of $7.5 million in state funding last year for a public corruption division within the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. That came after Lehmberg, a Democrat, refused to resign following a conviction and jail time for drunken driving.
Perry has spent more than $1.1 million of his campaign funds on his defense.
In a 60-page motion filed in August, Perry's legal team argued that the law being used to prosecute the longest-serving governor in Texas history is unconstitutionally vague and decried "attempts to convert inescapably political disputes into criminal complaints."
Richardson had previously refused to toss the case on a series of technicalities Perry's lawyers raised, including questioning whether the special prosecutor assigned to the case, San Antonio attorney Michael McCrum, was properly sworn in.
A grand jury in Austin — a liberal enclave in otherwise largely conservative Texas — indicted Perry. If convicted, the former governor faces a maximum 109 years in prison. He calls the matter a political witch hunt and says he would issue the veto again if given the chance.
Top national Republicans initially lined up to praise Perry and decry the criminal charges against him — but they've been less vocal about their support as the case drags on.
McCrum says the case is stronger than it may outwardly appear, and that it should be heard by a jury.
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