University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall is now the subject of a criminal investigation.
The Public Integrity Unit of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office has opened an investigation into Hall after receiving a complaint from a legislative committee considering impeachment proceedings against the regent.
Hall is accused of improper handling of student records as part of extensive open records requests of UT-Austin documents. Critics have accused Hall of conducting a "witch hunt" on behalf of Gov. Rick Perry to oust UT-Austin President Bill Powers.
“We did our initial review to determine whether we would have venue and jurisdiction and we have made the decision to open an investigation and gather more evidence, but I really can’t comment beyond that at this point,” Public Integrity Unit Director Gregg Cox says.
Earlier this week, the Texas House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations scheduled a May 12 vote on whether to pursue Hall’s impeachment. A recent report prepared for the committee found four possible grounds for impeachment.