Texas Gov. Rick Perry was formally processed and photographed by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon. His mugshot shows him smirking tightly; TMZ describes it as “defiant, but not too smug.”
Following the processing — which his attorney, Tony Buzbee, called “a complete waste of time and money” to CNN — he spoke to media and supporters outside the courthouse. Then, to reinforce his devil-may-care attitude, he got an ice cream at Sandy’s Austin, which he posted on Twitter.
Of course, once the mugshot was out in the world, the Internet went to work, with its memes and Photoshopping and artists’ renditions.
The New York Timesreports that Perry has retained a high-powered team of lawyers that includes Houston’s Buzbee; Ben Ginsberg, who represented George W. Bush in the Florida vote recount in 2000; and Austin lawyers David Botsford and Thomas Phillips.
Perry was indicted on two felony counts for abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant on August 15. A grand jury ruled against him for his alleged efforts to force Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg to resign after she was convicted of DWI in 2013.
Perry’s arraignment is scheduled for Friday, August 22. At that time, charges will be formally levied against him.
Rick Perry's post-mugshot ice cream.
