Prosecutor seeks to unseal Slade's testimony

Harris County prosecutor Donna Goode asked yesterday to have ex-TSU President Priscilla Slade's grand jury testimony unsealed so Slade's former assistant can review it for inconsistencies — though it's not clear just what the DA's office thinks Slade might have lied about. "I think there's enough concern on my part to go through the gyrations of filing the motion," Goode said.

Slade was indicted this summer on felony charges relating to her spending of university funds while she was president — more than $1.9 million that went to personal expenses including gifts, sports tickets, church donations, china, and furniture, electronics and landscaping for her home, a criminal investigation found. If the testimony is unsealed and incorrect grand jury testimony is found, Slade could be charged with aggravated perjury; if convicted, she could face 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Slade's lawyer, Mike DeGuerin, called yesterday's move a "fishing expedition" and said there has to be a specific reason for grand jury testimony to be unsealed. State District Judge Brock Thomas is expected to make a ruling on Goode's request early next week.