A spokesman for Perry told CNN that the former Energy Secretary denies being the author of the text. Multiple people who know Rick Perry confirmed to CNN that the phone number the committee has associated with that text message is Perry’s number. The number is also associated in a second database as registered to a Department of Energy email address associated with Perry when he was secretary. The House Select Committee declined to comment on the author of the text. Perry, the longest serving governor in the history of Texas, became the Secretary of Energy for President Trump from 2017-2019.

Source: CNN December 17, 2021 22:01 UTC