DA Ends Pension Probe

The Travis County district attorney’s office said last week it closed the case on allegations of political influence on investment decisions by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas earlier this year after an investigation found no criminal violations.

First assistant district attorney John Neal said the office last year received a copy of a memorandum from TRS investment director Michael Green alleging that the retirement system’s chief ­investment officer had overridden ­objections from staff in making questionable investments in a company owned by board members appointed by Gov. Rick Perry.

Neal said the Austin district attorney’s office closed the case in June and would not reopen it unless new facts are presented,

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White last week charged Perry, his Republican opponent, with jeopardizing the retirement of 1.2 million active and retired teachers by favoring investments by the teacher trust fund in companies of his financial contributors.

White spokeswoman Katy Bacon said as governor White would prohibit appointees to the Teachers Retirement System board from raising money for political campaigns.

Perry spokesman Mark Miner said the lack of wrongdoing in the matter “proves [White] is a desperate candidate who will say and do anything.”

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