The carefully guarded transcripts from the Fulton County special grand jury have been released, revealing a stunning account from former U.S. Senator David Perdue. His testimony centers on a pivotal moment in the aftermath of the 2020 election, and a potentially suppressed investigation into alleged ballot harvesting.
Perdue, a prominent candidate who narrowly missed a majority in the November 2020 election and faced a subsequent runoff, appeared before the grand jury in September 2022. Questioned by Nathan Wade – the prosecutor later embroiled in controversy – Perdue was pressed about the events at State Farm Arena, a focal point of election disputes.
Wade asserted that investigations by the Secretary of State’s Office and the GBI had found no evidence of wrongdoing. Perdue’s response was direct and unwavering: “That’s your opinion,” he stated, “That’s not fact.” He expressed deep dissatisfaction with the scope and conclusions of those investigations.
The testimony took a dramatic turn when Perdue revealed a private conversation with Vic Reynolds, then-head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Reynolds, Perdue testified, contacted him in November 2021 with a startling admission. Reynolds stated the GBI would not pursue an investigation into ballot harvesting because “the governor wants me to tell you why we’re not going to investigate.”
Prior to this decision, Reynolds had been presented with compelling evidence – video footage, cell phone records, testimony, and bank data – suggesting potential illegal activity. Perdue recounted that Reynolds himself had found the evidence “compelling” and worthy of investigation back in May 2021. Reynolds, however, ultimately claimed he was “a team player” and deferred to the governor’s wishes.
This revelation gains further significance when considering Reynolds’s recent appointment. Just one month before Perdue’s grand jury testimony, Governor Brian Kemp had appointed Reynolds as a Superior Court judge in Cobb County. The timing raises questions about potential influence and motivations.
The initial evidence was brought to Reynolds’s attention by True The Vote in May 2021. However, the GBI’s response was not to launch a full investigation, but to send a letter to True The Vote – and, notably, to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The letter reportedly identified and exposed investigators working with True The Vote, before their work became widely known.
True The Vote maintains that the GBI’s account of events is inaccurate. They assert they repeatedly attempted to re-engage with the GBI after their initial meeting, but received no response. The FBI offered to host a secure database for evidence, but made no commitment to actively investigate.
The organization claims the GBI shifted blame to them, alleging a lack of a confidential source, despite their repeated attempts to provide further information. They believe a genuine investigation was never seriously considered, and the focus quickly turned to discrediting their findings.
Perdue’s sworn testimony now casts a long shadow over the indictment of former President Trump and his co-defendants. It raises critical questions about whether a legitimate investigation was deliberately halted, and whether the special prosecutors were made aware of this alleged interference.
Was crucial information withheld during the grand jury proceedings? Could the failure to disclose a potentially suppressed investigation constitute prosecutorial misconduct or a Brady violation? As the Department of Justice and the FBI begin their own scrutiny of Fulton County’s 2020 election, these questions demand answers.
