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Secretary of State testifies for nearly 5 hours in front of grand jury in Trump election probe

ATLANTA — Georgia’s top elections official finished testifying in front of a special grand jury.

Jurors are investigating whether former President Donald Trump attempted to criminally interfere with the 2020 election.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was outside the Fulton County Courthouse Thursday morning as Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger walked in.

Elliot said he was surrounded by some of his staff members, including at least two also subpoenaed by the special purpose grand jury.

He didn’t say much before he climbed the stairs and walked inside.

“I hope it’s short,” Raffensperger told Elliot.

It wasn’t.

Raffensperger sat in front of the grand jury for four to five hours answering questions as the jurors investigated whether there was criminal interference in Georgia’s 2020 election.

They want to know a lot more about the now-infamous post-election phone call between Trump and Raffensperger.

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“So look, all I want to do is just, I want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have, because we won the state,” Trump told Raffensperger during that call.

Just before 1 p.m. Thursday, Elliot spotted Raffensperger’s wife Tricia walking into the courthouse.

Sources told Channel 2 Action News that the grand jury wanted her testimony too, though it was unclear as to the reason.

Tricia Raffensperger did endure death threats after the election.

By 2:30 p.m., the grand jury was finished for the day and though Elliot waited to see the secretary again, he didn’t. Raffensperger left through a different exit.

Elliot spoke to Raffensperger on Wednesday about his grand jury appearance. He said he hoped for an open and honest discussion with it.

“I hope it’s an objective, you know, fact-based process. I think at the end of the day that’s what this office does, you know, we have to because we’re overseeing elections,” Raffensperger said.

So what’s next?

It’s unclear if Raffensperger will return for more testimony or if he’s finished.

Other members of his staff also have subpoenas and will testify later on.

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