New York Times Frames Daniel Perry’s Just Pardon As Product Of Partisan Pressure Campaign
By: Jordan Boyd
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Former Army Sgt. Daniel Perry, who was lambasted by the corporate media and targeted by a George Soros-backed district attorney, is a free man after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pardoned him for defending himself against an unruly rioter who brandished an AK-47 at him during the Black Lives Matter chaos in Austin in July 2020.
The pardon, the Lone Star State's Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed, was a "unanimous recommendation by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles," the body of appointees charged with reviewing the state's clemency applications.
The New York Times, however, framed Perry's newfound freedom as the outcome of a partisan pressure campaign fueled by Abbott "fulfilling a promise he made last year amid pressure from conservatives," rather than a just pardon.
"Texas Governor Pardons Man in Fatal Shooting of Protester in 2020," the NYT's headline about the proclamation reads.
The "protestor" in question, Garrett Foster, was among the crowd of George Floyd-inspired agitators blocking Austin's busy Congress Avenue on July 25, 2020. The rowdy group not only held up traffic, but attempted to intimidate drivers like Perry by assaulting his vehicle.
Perry shot Foster with his handgun when the bandannaed 28-year-old confronted him with what Abbott's proclamation described as a "Kalashnikov-style rifle in the low-ready firing position." Seconds after the shooting, Perry called law enforcement to report his act of self-defense.
Footage shows the moments leading up to the shooting death of of 28-year-old Garrett Foster. Authorities detained and later released both shooters, whose names were not released, with no charges.
Read more about the shooting: https://t.co/SlyIRzbTCzpic.twitter.com/s4HVNkyeGF
— Austin Statesman (@statesman) July 28, 2020
The fact that Foster pointed an AK-47 at Perry does not appear in the Times' coverage of the pardon until the 12th paragraph.
Instead, what dominates the first half of the article are not-so-subtle suggestions from the corporate media outlet and Foster's family that the weapon-wielding man was an innocent bystander who became a victim of a motivated murder.
The article relies heavily on comment from Foster's mom, who suggested her son was "out there protecting people from people like Perry." The publication was also quick to note that Foster's family "saw a political motivation" in Abbott's decision
NYT also amplified the prosecutors' assertion that Perry made "racist online comments" that may have fueled the killing (even though Foster was white) and their claim that "psychological experts had found him to be 'basically a loaded gun.'"
At one point, the Times reported that "prosecutors showed evidence before the shooting of Mr. Perry's animosity toward protesters on social media."
Despite the Lone Star State's sweeping protections for Texans defending themselves against perceived threats, an Austin jury convicted Perry in April 2023. By May 2023, a judge sentenced the ex-sergeant to 25 years in prison.
Abbott immediately signaled his intent to pardon Perry if the case earned the favor of the state board.
One year later, Abbott noted in his proclamation that Perry is free to go thanks to the Second Amendment, Texas law — which "provides one of the clearest self-defense protections in the United States" — and a specific statute allowing the use of deadly force.
He also noted that Travis County's District Attorney Jose Garza was so hellbent on "reducing access to guns" that he ordered law enforcement to "withhold exculpatory evidence from the Grand Jury considering whether to report an indictment."
"Garza has not sought 'to see that justice is done' … but has instead demonstrated unethical and biased misuse of his office in prosecuting Daniel Scott Perry," Abbott wrote.
My statement regarding the pardon of Sgt. Daniel Perry. pic.twitter.com/t7UMWdeOV2
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 16, 2024
Garza's abuse of power has put the DA at risk of removal. The Times, however, framed Abbott's concerns as an "attack" on the Travis County prosecutor. The outlet also made sure to note that Garza's removal would be made possible "under a new law signed by the governor aimed at limiting the discretion of local prosecutors."
Undeterred by the corporate media's repeated insistence that his client should suffer for defending himself, Perry's attorney Doug O'Connell celebrated the pardon.
"He is thrilled and elated to be free. Daniel is also optimistic for his future. He wishes that this tragic event never happened and wishes he never had to defend himself against Mr. Foster's unlawful actions," O'Connell said in a statement. "At the same time, Daniel recognizes that the Foster family is grieving."
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Far from the "partisan pressure" the NYT Blogger is suggesting.