We reported last month that Gov. Rick Perry had settled a lawsuit filed by former Democratic opponent Chris Bell which alleged Perry received illegal contributions.
We learned that Perry paid Bell $426,000 to Bell as part of the settlement, reported Friday by the Austin American-Statesman. Also reported by the Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle.
See it for yourself here on page 1,838 of Perry’s July 15 campaign finance report, which shows the payment was made March 3. The agreement was sealed and the parties involved signed a confidentiality agreement.
Six figures will induce folks to do all kinds of things, but we’d love to know what kind of negotiations went on leading up to the final amount. We asked several parties involved, to no avail.
Bell’s suit charged that Perry attempted to hide $1 million in donations from political kingmaker Bob Perry, (no relation) a Houston home builder.
The suit claimed the money was illegally routed through the Republican Governors Association in the last days of the 2006 gubernatorial campaign, in which Bell opposed the incumbent Perry.
Both sides in the dispute signed a confidentiality agreement, so there’s not much talking about the payout.
Bell’s attorney Buck Wood said there may be more owed to his client as another element to Bell’s suit awaits a final verdict.
Bell also sued the Republican Governors Association, and if the judge’s decision goes his way, he stands to pocket $2 million plus legal fees, in accordance with statute.
“If the judge finds that RGA violated the statute, which is what we alleged, the minimum amount of money awarded is $2 million to Chris Bell,” Wood said. “Under these cases the liability is double the amount if they are illegal contributions.”
Perry campaign spokesman Mark Miner did not immediately return a call and e-mail.
The campaign of Perry’s Democratic foe, Bill White, already dealing with a report that White lied about his return on a oil company he founded, dismissed the news.
“Neither Bill White nor Bill White's campaign is a part of the case,” a White rep said.
Contact Steve Miller at 832-303-9420 or stevemiller@texaswatchdog.org.
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