AJC:

Republican David Perdue said he “misunderstood” the Donald Trump supporters who chanted about imprisoning Gov. Brian Kemp when he smiled and flashed them a thumbs-up sign at the former president’s rally.

The former U.S. senator said Tuesday he thought the Trump demonstrators who erupted into cheers were not chanting “lock him up” after he vowed to investigate the 2020 election if he defeats Kemp in the May 24 Republican primary.

“I really thought they were saying ‘lock them up,’” he said after addressing a GOP gathering in Fayette County.

“It was what I had said very pointedly in my speech, was the people responsible for this malfeasance should be investigated and are brought to justice. That’s what I said. I misunderstood what they were saying. So I’m holding the governor accountable.”…

Perdue last week falsely claimed for the first time that he didn’t lose to U.S. Jon Ossoff in the 2021 runoffs. And he doubled down on that lie at the Trump rally, claiming that he and Trump were both victims of “stolen” elections.

But he drew the most attention for something that wasn’t scripted. When he promised to ensure that “those people responsible for that fraud in 2020 go to jail” if elected governor, loud chants of “lock him up!” erupted from Trump supporters.

Perdue responded to the demands to imprison Kemp, his former political ally turned primary rival, by encouraging the crowd to continue the chants.