Controversy_NN1 Builds_VVZ in_II Texas_NP1 Over_II an_AT1 Execution_NN1 HOUSTON_NP1 --_JJ Questions_NN2 about_II whether_CSW Gov_NN1 ._. 
Rick_NP1 Perry_NP1 allowed_VVD the_AT execution_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 man_NN1 some_DD arson_NN1 experts_NN2 say_VV0 may_VM have_VHI been_VBN innocent_JJ ,_, and_CC then_RT hindered_VVD an_AT1 investigation_NN1 into_II the_AT evidence_NN1 ,_, continue_VV0 to_TO reverberate_VVI across_II Texas_NP1 ,_, where_CS issues_NN2 surrounding_VVG capital_NN1 punishment_NN1 have_VH0 rarely_RR stirred_VVN such_DA controversy_NN1 ._. 
On_II Sunday_NPD1 ,_, Mark_NP1 White_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS as_II governor_NN1 himself_PPX1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 strong_JJ death_NN1 penalty_NN1 supporter_NN1 ,_, said_VVD he_PPHS1 believed_VVD that_CST the_AT state_NN1 should_VM reconsider_VVI capital_NN1 punishment_NN1 because_CS ,_, among_II other_JJ reasons_NN2 ,_, there_EX was_VBDZ too_RG great_JJ a_AT1 risk_NN1 of_IO putting_VVG innocent_JJ people_NN to_II death_NN1 ._. 
"_" There_EX is_VBZ a_AT1 very_RG strong_JJ case_NN1 to_TO be_VBI made_VVN for_IF a_AT1 review_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE death_NN1 penalty_NN1 statutes_NN2 and_CC even_RR look_VV0 at_II the_AT possibility_NN1 of_IO having_VHG life_NN1 without_IW parole_NN1 so_CS we_PPIS2 do_VD0 n't_XX look_VVI up_RP one_MC1 day_NNT1 and_CC determine_VVI that_CST we_PPIS2 as_II the_AT State_NN1 of_IO Texas_NP1 have_VH0 executed_VVN someone_PN1 who_PNQS is_VBZ in_II fact_NN1 innocent_NN1 ,_, "_" Mr._NNB White_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 Democrat_NN1 who_PNQS was_VBDZ governor_NN1 from_II 1983_MC to_II 1987_MC ,_, told_VVD The_AT Houston_NP1 Chronicle_NN1 and_CC The_AT San_NP1 Antonio_NP1 Express-News_NP1 ._. 
Mr._NNB White_NP1 's_GE remarks_NN2 came_VVD with_IW Mr._NNB Perry_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 Republican_NN1 and_CC staunch_JJ backer_NN1 of_IO the_AT death_NN1 penalty_NN1 ,_, under_II criticism_NN1 for_IF not_XX granting_VVG a_AT1 30-day_JJ reprieve_NN1 to_II Cameron_NP1 T._NP1 Willingham_NP1 in_II 2004_MC ,_, when_RRQ an_AT1 arson_NN1 expert_NN1 working_VVG with_IW Mr._NNB Willingham_NP1 's_GE defense_NN1 concluded_VVD that_CST the_AT evidence_NN1 that_CST had_VHD put_VVN him_PPHO1 on_II death_NN1 row_NN1 was_VBDZ seriously_RR flawed_JJ ._. 
Mr._NNB White_NP1 said_VVD he_PPHS1 did_VDD not_XX intend_VVI for_IF his_APPGE comments_NN2 to_TO be_VBI taken_VVN as_CSA criticism_NN1 of_IO Mr._NNB Perry_NP1 's_GE handling_NN1 of_IO the_AT Willingham_NP1 case_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, the_AT case_NN1 is_VBZ one_MC1 example_NN1 "_" of_IO why_RRQ I_PPIS1 think_VV0 the_AT system_NN1 is_VBZ so_RG unreliable_JJ ._. "_" 
Three_MC weeks_NNT2 ago_RA Mr._NNB Perry_NP1 replaced_VVD the_AT chairman_NN1 and_CC two_MC other_JJ members_NN2 of_IO the_AT State_NN1 Forensic_NN1 Science_NN1 Commission_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ was_VBDZ about_RPK to_TO hold_VVI hearings_NN2 on_II the_AT evidence_NN1 in_II the_AT case_NN1 ._. 
The_AT new_JJ chairman_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 close_JJ ally_NN1 of_IO the_AT governor_NN1 ,_, promptly_RR canceled_VVD a_AT1 hearing_NN1 at_II which_DDQ a_AT1 second_NNT1 ,_, independent_JJ arson_NN1 expert_NN1 was_VBDZ to_TO testify_VVI ._. 
The_AT commission_NN1 's_GE expert_NN1 ,_, Craig_NP1 L._NP1 Beyler_NN1 of_IO Baltimore_NP1 ,_, had_VHD concluded_VVN in_II a_AT1 lengthy_JJ report_NN1 that_CST the_AT evidence_NN1 did_VDD not_XX prove_VVI that_CST Mr._NNB Willingham_NP1 set_VVD the_AT fire_NN1 that_CST killed_VVD his_APPGE three_MC daughters_NN2 in_II 1991_MC ._. 
Since_II then_RT ,_, the_AT governor_NN1 has_VHZ found_VVN himself_PPX1 on_II the_AT defensive_JJ ,_, with_IW editorial_JJ writers_NN2 ,_, columnists_NN2 and_CC political_JJ opponents_NN2 in_II both_DB2 parties_NN2 accusing_VVG him_PPHO1 of_IO trying_VVG to_TO protect_VVI his_APPGE future_NN1 at_II the_AT expense_NN1 of_IO determining_VVG the_AT truth_NN1 ._. 
Last_MD week_NNT1 Mr._NNB Perry_NP1 defended_VVD his_APPGE decision_NN1 and_CC struck_VVD back_RP at_II his_APPGE critics_NN2 ._. 
"_" Willingham_NP1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 monster_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
"_" Here_RL 's_VBZ a_AT1 guy_NN1 who_PNQS murdered_VVD his_APPGE three_MC children_NN2 ,_, who_PNQS tried_VVD to_TO beat_VVI his_APPGE wife_NN1 into_II an_AT1 abortion_NN1 so_CS he_PPHS1 would_VM n't_XX have_VHI those_DD2 kids_NN2 ._. 
Person_NN1 after_II person_NN1 has_VHZ stood_VVN up_RP and_CC testified_VVN to_II the_AT facts_NN2 in_II this_DD1 case_NN1 ._. "_" 
The_AT governor_NN1 has_VHZ pointed_VVN out_RP that_CST just_RR before_II the_AT execution_NN1 ,_, Mr._NNB Willingham_NP1 's_GE conviction_NN1 was_VBDZ sustained_VVN by_II appellate_JJ courts_NN2 ,_, including_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Court_NN1 of_IO Appeals_NN2 for_IF the_AT Fifth_MD Circuit_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 court_NN1 ruled_VVD that_CST the_AT affidavit_NN1 of_IO the_AT defense_NN1 's_GE arson_NN1 expert_NN1 ,_, Gerald_NP1 Hurst_NP1 ,_, did_VDD not_XX exonerate_VVI Mr._NNB Willingham_NP1 ,_, since_CS there_EX was_VBDZ other_JJ physical_JJ evidence_NN1 that_CST contrary_II21 to_II22 his_APPGE claims_NN2 ,_, he_PPHS1 had_VHD not_XX tried_VVN to_TO save_VVI his_APPGE children_NN2 ._. 
Mr._NNB Perry_NP1 has_VHZ also_RR refused_VVN to_TO release_VVI the_AT memorandum_NN1 from_II his_APPGE general_JJ counsel_NN1 on_II which_DDQ he_PPHS1 based_VVD his_APPGE decision_NN1 to_TO let_VVI the_AT execution_NN1 proceed_VVI ._. 
He_PPHS1 says_VVZ the_AT memorandum_NN1 is_VBZ protected_VVN by_II attorney-client_JJ privilege_NN1 ._. 
Katherine_NP1 Cesinger_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 spokeswoman_NN1 for_IF Mr._NNB Perry_NP1 ,_, said_VVD that_CST on_II the_AT night_NNT1 of_IO the_AT execution_NN1 ,_, the_AT governor_NN1 's_GE general_JJ counsel_NN1 thoroughly_RR briefed_VVD him_PPHO1 on_II the_AT report_NN1 of_IO the_AT arson_NN1 expert_NN1 and_CC various_JJ appellate_JJ court_NN1 decisions_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 denied_VVD the_AT reprieve_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, because_CS the_AT courts_NN2 "_" all_DB agreed_VVD that_CST the_AT Hurst_NP1 report_NN1 was_VBDZ no_AT more_DAR than_CSN an_AT1 opinion_NN1 and_CC did_VDD not_XX merit_VVI reopening_VVG the_AT case_NN1 ._. "_" 
Mr._NNB Willingham_NP1 's_GE guilt_NN1 aside_RL ,_, the_AT governor_NN1 's_GE actions_NN2 have_VH0 left_VVN him_PPHO1 vulnerable_JJ to_II accusations_NN2 that_CST he_PPHS1 tampered_VVD with_IW the_AT work_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 supposedly_RR independent_JJ commission_NN1 for_IF political_JJ reasons_NN2 ._. 
The_AT accusations_NN2 gained_VVD weight_NN1 when_CS Sam_NP1 Bassett_NP1 ,_, the_AT Austin_NP1 lawyer_NN1 whom_PNQO the_AT governor_NN1 dismissed_VVD three_MC weeks_NNT2 ago_RA after_II two_MC terms_NN2 as_II head_NN1 of_IO the_AT commission_NN1 ,_, said_VVD last_MD week_NNT1 that_CST the_AT governor_NN1 's_GE general_JJ counsel_NN1 ,_, David_NP1 G._NP1 Cabrales_NP2 ,_, pressured_VVD Mr._NNB Bassett_NP1 earlier_RRR this_DD1 year_NNT1 to_TO drop_VVI the_AT inquiry_NN1 ._. 
Mr._NNB Cabrales_NP1 has_VHZ not_XX responded_VVN to_II Mr._NNB Bassett_NP1 's_GE account_NN1 ._. 
So_RR popular_JJ is_VBZ the_AT death_NN1 penalty_NN1 here_RL that_CST Mr._NNB Perry_NP1 's_GE main_JJ opponent_NN1 in_II next_MD year_NNT1 's_GE Republican_NN1 primary_NN1 for_IF governor_NN1 ,_, Senator_NNB Kay_NP1 Bailey_NP1 Hutchison_NP1 ,_, has_VHZ taken_VVN the_AT rather_RG novel_JJ approach_NN1 of_IO suggesting_VVG that_CST his_APPGE actions_NN2 have_VH0 lent_VVN ammunition_NN1 to_II opponents_NN2 of_IO capital_NN1 punishment_NN1 ._. 
"_" The_AT only_JJ thing_NN1 Rick_NP1 Perry_NP1 's_GE actions_NN2 have_VH0 accomplished_VVN is_VBZ giving_VVG liberals_NN2 an_AT1 argument_NN1 to_TO discredit_VVI the_AT death_NN1 penalty_NN1 ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 said_VVD in_II a_AT1 statement_NN1 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 should_VM never_RR do_VDI anything_PN1 to_TO create_VVI a_AT1 cloud_NN1 of_IO controversy_NN1 over_II it_PPH1 with_IW actions_NN2 that_CST look_VV0 like_II a_AT1 cover-up_NN1 ._. "_" 
