AUSTIN, Texas – On May 16th, Greg Abbott issued a full pardon to U.S. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted in April 2023 of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester. Abbott ordered the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to further investigate the case before Perry was even sentenced after succumbing to pressure from former Fox News Host Tucker Carlson.

Last year, court documents revealed that Daniel Perry had a history of sending racist memes and advocating for violence against protesters and Muslims, including expressing a desire to kill them.

Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“On May 16th, a convicted murderer will walk the streets of Texas. Texas Republicans have once again proven that they cannot keep the public safe, they are not the party of ‘tough on crime,’ and they are not the party of ‘law and order.’ Only in an authoritarian state can a murderer be fully pardoned at the direction of a Fox News TV personality and corrupt governor. Make no mistake: Daniel Perry is a murderer who was on a mission to commit violence against Texans, and today our justice system was hijacked for political gain.”