For Brian Kemp, suit over bad loan reveals political, financial perils

Republican gubernatorial candidate personally backed $10 million for now-struggling agricultural business.


At 9 a.m. on July 19, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp sat in his lawyer’s office in Carrollton. In just five days, the state’s Republicans would choose either Kemp or Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle as their candidate for governor. The race was widely viewed as a toss-up. But Kemp would be stuck in Carrollton for the next two hours and 27 minutes, trying to explain, under oath, why he shouldn’t have to repay a $500,000 loan.

By the time his deposition concluded, Kemp had answered “I don’t recall,” “I don’t remember,” “I don’t know,” or some variation at least 91 times.

“To the best of my knowledge,” Kemp replied to one question, “I don’t recall that.”

The deposition, not previously reported, underscored the political and financial perils Kemp faces from a lawsuit over a loan he personally guaranteed for an agricultural business in which he invested.

Kemp has campaigned for governor as much on his business experience as on his record in public office. So a court case involving a delinquent loan could undermine his attacks on Democrat Stacey Abrams for debts that include more than $50,000 in back taxes.

Read more: https://politics.myajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/for-brian-kemp-suit-over-bad-loan-reveals-political-financial-perils/FGeAr04V2A0tphsBVMSObI/