Forensic Expert: Perry Pressured Me

Two weeks ago, Texas Governor Rick Perry ordered the replacement of Samuel Bassett, the head of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which was investigating the execution of a possibly innocent man. Now, Bassett tells the Chicago Tribune that he was twice pressured by Perry’s attorneys to abandon the investigation before his firing. "I was surprised that they were involving themselves in the commission's decision-making," Bassett said. "I did feel some pressure from them, yes. There's no question about that." The commission was reviewing the evidence in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed with Perry’s approval.