Texas Governor Rick Perry's attorneys on Monday moved to dismiss the two felony charges filed against him on the grounds that prosecuting the head of the state over a political spat is unlawful.

The potential 2016 presidential candidate was indicted earlier this month for abuse of power when he allegedly used the veto to force a prosecutor in Travis County to resign. The latter is a stronghold for Democrats in the state widely dominated by Republicans, Reuters explained.

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In the motion filed in a district court in Travis County, Perry's lawyers called the criminal prosecution an "unprecedented assault" on the governor's position.The longest-serving Texas governor was subjected to an ethics probe in 2013 after he vetoed funding worth US$7.5 million for a unit operatd by the office of the Travis County district attorney.

Many viewed the veto as a way to force Travis County Distric Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg to resign after she admitted to drunken driving. Lehmberg is a Democrat while Perry is a Republican.Perry was indicted for abuse of official power, a first-degree felony, and coercion of a public official, which is a third-degree felony.

Meanwhile, Perry said the charges filed against him were politically motivated. His critics argue his moves would have allowed him to continue cronyism in his administration.

Last week, Perry made speeches in New Hampshire in a bid to use the indictment in his political push. He described himself as a victim of a politically motivated prosecution.

According to Dallas-based political science professor Cal Jillson, Perry needs to avoid trial because the process itself could damage his image. Jillson explained that testimonies from his operatives about the political aspects of the veto could deliver a major blow to his reputation.

Perry's lawyers need to have the indictment thrown out before a trial is set, or else the trial itself will kill his ambitions of being a Republican presidential runner for the 2016 polls, Jillson said. 

TagsRick Perry, Reuters, Texas, travis county, ROSEMARY LEHMBERG, Democrat, Republican, New Hampshire, Cal Jillson