Texas governor breaks his silence on Robert Roberson

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Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday condemned the actions of a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers and broke his silence on the impending execution of Robert Roberson.

Abbott said last week in an amicus brief supporting the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s plan to execute Roberson that lawmakers “stepped out of line” when they intervened to save Roberson’s life.

Abbott argued that the authority to grant clemency in a death, including a 30-day reprieve, rests solely with the governor.

“Unless the Court rejects this tactic, it can be repeated in any capital case, effectively rewriting the Constitution to reallocate a power that belongs only to the governor,” Abbott argued.

The Texas Supreme Court last week halted Roberson’s execution after members of the Texas House of Representatives committee subpoenaed Roberson to testify to save his life, sparking an unprecedented legal battle.

Roberson was convicted in 2003 in the death of his chronically ill 2-year-old daughter, Nikki. Had he been executed last week, he would have been the first person put to death in a case related to shaken baby syndrome, a diagnosis that many experts and lawmakers say is no longer supported by scientific evidence.

Roberson has maintained his innocence on death row for more than 20 years.

This is a developing story and will be updated.