After being arrested and charged by Austin police for allegedly driving while intoxicated, State Sen. Charles Schwertner, a Georgetown Republican, has had the charges dismissed.
The arrest happened in the early hours of February 7. Schwertner, who has served in the Texas Senate for 10 years, was arrested at 2:12 a.m. and brought to the Travis County Jail. After being released on a no-cash personal recognizance bond, Schwertner said he was “deeply sorry” and “apologetic” to his constituents and family, adding that he “made a mistake.”
Now his lawyer, Perry Minton, says the charges have been dismissed by the Travis County attorney’s office.
“I’ve been informed by the county attorney’s office that the DWI charges against Sen. Schwertner have been dismissed,” Minton told the Austin American-Statesman. “This is the right decision based strictly on the evidence. Sen. Schwertner is grateful for this quick decision and remains focused on his family and constituents.”
Schwertner chairs the Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee and was elected by his colleagues to serve as president pro tempore of the Senate in May.
He is not the only state lawmaker to be arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Last session, former State Rep. Dan Huberty was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated after he rear-ended another vehicle while at a stoplight. He did not seek re-election, instead opening up a bar and cafe in downtown Austin catering to lawmakers, lobbyists, and reporters.
Meanwhile, Democrat State Rep. Victoria Neave (Dallas) made headlines only a few months into her first term when she was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing her BMW into a tree. She currently chairs the House’s County Affairs Committee.
