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DeKalb special grand jury wants corruption findings made public

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — While embattled DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis fights to get an advance copy of a special grand jury report, the jurors are demanding the findings be made public.

The report is the culmination of a year-long investigation into public corruption, which began with allegations of bribery and bid-rigging in the county's Watershed Department, but later expanded to include questions about contracts county-wide. Ellis' home was raided during the investigation.

Last week, the judge overseeing the corruption probe held a secret hearing in his courtroom. Channel 2 crews made an attempt to cover the hearing, but our producer was barred from entering the courtroom. The grand jury has now sent a letter to the judge denouncing the decision.

"We are all voting, taxpaying citizens who gave up a year of our time to serve on this Special Purpose Grand Jury. We made recommendations for the betterment of DeKalb County and believe that this information needs to be made public without delay," the letter said in part. "It is the collective desire of the 23 members of this Special Purpose Grand Jury that you dismiss us from our service as Special Purpose Grand Jurors and publish the presentment in its entirety."

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