According to a special grand jury report on whether then-President Donald Trump and his associates attempted to unlawfully interfere in Georgia’s 2020 election results, the grand jurors believe some witnesses lied under oath.
“A majority of the grand jury believes that one or more witnesses testifying before it committed perjury,” according to a section of the report released Thursday. “Where the evidence is compelling, the grand jury recommends that the District Attorney seek appropriate indictments for such crimes.”
The newly unsealed portions of the report reveal new information about the scope of the investigation but do not reveal who the grand jury believes should be charged and for what, other than perjury.
The grand jury “received evidence from or involving 75 witnesses during the course of this investigation, the overwhelming majority of which information was delivered in person under oath,” according to the report.
The panel also “heard extensive testimony on the subject of alleged election fraud from poll workers, investigators, technical experts, and state of Georgia employees and officials, as well as from persons who continue to claim such fraud occurred,” according to the report.
“We unanimously conclude that no widespread fraud occurred,” it says.
The jury foreperson and deputy foreperson noted the panel in an addendum that was also released “voted to recommend publication of the Special Purpose Grand Jury Final Report” but “did not recommend a method or time for such publication.”
A coalition of media outlets argued that the entire report should be made public right away, but Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office argued that it should be kept private for the time being.
Due to due process concerns, Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney ruled this week that he would unseal portions of the report that did not include the grand jury’s recommendations about specific potential indictments.
Following the release, a Trump spokesperson praised the omission of the former president’s name from the report’s unsealed sections.
“The long-awaited key sections of the Georgia report, which do not even mention President Trump’s name, have nothing to do with the President because the President did nothing wrong.” “In a statement, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said.
Trump went on to thank the grand jury and prematurely claim the partial report was a “total exoneration” in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, a short time later.
McBurney ruled on Monday that three sections of the final report be made public: the introduction, the conclusion, and a section in which jurors expressed concern that some witnesses may have lied under oath.
“The compelling public interest in these proceedings, as well as the undeniable value and importance of transparency,” he said.
McBurney revealed that the grand jury’s work was completed in a separate ruling last month that officially disbanded the panel.
