Gov. Deal on Kemp-Abrams race: 'It should be over'

ATLANTA — Gov. Nathan Deal isn't holding back his thoughts about the ongoing saga involving the race for Georgia governor.

When Channel 2's Richard Elliot asked him about it, he said he was only a spectator but added that if there are any problems with the elections, he thinks Georgia should address them, not the federal courts.

It was a confusing morning at the state Capitol as Stacey Abrams supporters and Democratic leaders had some difficulty coordinating their news conferences.

However, they said that was nothing compared to the confusion some voters had during the election.

They want more ballots counted and believe Abrams is close to forcing a runoff.

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Republican candidate Brian Kemp's people sent Elliot an email about an hour ago reiterating their belief that the election is over. They believe Kemp won and they are accusing Abrams' people of reporting fake vote totals and of holding desperate news conferences.

When it comes to this election, right now, there’s no end in sight.

[PHOTOS: Several protesters arrested in election protest at Capitol]

Elsewhere at the Capitol, a Senate public safety committee is looking into the arrest of a state senator during a vocal protest on Tuesday.

Elliot spoke with state Sen. Nikema Williams, who said, "Never did I imagine that my day would end up with me being in jail."

Williams appeared alongside fellow Democrats and Abrams supporters at the news conference earlier in the day.

"I’m being arrested because I refused to leave the floor of a body that I serve in," she said at the time of her arrest Tuesday.

A total of 15 people were arrested for allegedly causing a disruptive protest without a proper permit while the House was still in session.

Police charged Williams with what is essentially disorderly conduct, and after spending five hours in jail, she was released.

"While I do regret that Capitol police made the decision that I think was unlawful to arrest me, I don’t regret standing with my constituents. I don’t regret standing up for what I know was fair and just and right," she said.

Elliot asked Deal about the protests and the arrests. He didn’t want to comment on Williams’ arrest but he said he didn’t think the protestors should have been demonstrating loudly inside the Capitol without a permit.

"We have the entire Liberty Plaza that was dedicated to the purpose of people who wanted to do lawful demonstrations, and that was available. It was raining, but it was still available," he said.

Cox Media Group