Legislator to Gov. Perry: Regent Hall Should Resign

State Representative Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio) has written a letter to Gov. Rick Perry suggesting that UT System regent Wallace Hall should resign.

Larson is a member of the house committee that is investigating into the possibility of drawing up articles of impeachment against Hall. The House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations conducted two days of hearings in October and have two more days scheduled for Nov. 12 & 13.

The Texas Tribune has acquired the letter Larson wrote to the Governor in which he wrote, "neither of us may agree with everything Bill Powers has done as President of UT-Austin, but watching Wallace Hall conduct a Salem-esque tribunal of Bill Powers is unprofessional, undignified, and unbecoming of a gubernatorial appointee."

Larson went on to write that he believed Perry's legacy was threatened by the controversy and ended the letter: "I truly believe Wallace Hall's resignation is the best way to move forward. "

There was speculation that Hall might testify at the next round of hearings, in response to a subpoena, but Rusty Hardin, special counsel to the committee has said that will not happen.

Hardin told Hall's lawyers that since the committee has not received all of the documents they requested the committee will hold off on hearing from the regent. Hardin chastised Hall's lawyers for the delay on the records request, indicating that it could be grounds for contempt. He also said that the committee has yet to receive a response for a list of witnesses that Hall would like to call.

"He's chomping at the bit to make his public presentation, but he just wants to do it on his own terms," Hardin said. "He's like the kid in the playground that says, 'I get to make my own rules, and if you don't go along with it, I get to take my bat and ball and go home.'"

The committee will also hold two days of hearing sometime in December.