News
News

For Sonny and David Perdue, trucking business crashed

July 22, 2014 Atlanta - Republican candidate for U.S. Senate David Perdue holds his grandson David Perdue IV as former Gov. Sonny Perdue looks at David Perdue’s election-night party at DoubleTree Hotel Buckhead on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
July 22, 2014 Atlanta - Republican candidate for U.S. Senate David Perdue holds his grandson David Perdue IV as former Gov. Sonny Perdue looks at David Perdue’s election-night party at DoubleTree Hotel Buckhead on Tuesday, July 22, 2014. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM
By and Aaron Gould Sheinin
Feb 13, 2017

When he was governor, Sonny Perdue liked to tell Georgians that he was a businessman long before he was a politician. That attribute appealed to President Donald Trump, who nominated Perdue to be his agriculture secretary.

The former governor’s cousin, U.S. Sen. David Perdue, built his fortune as a corporate turnaround specialist, helping revive struggling companies like Dollar General.

But a business venture by the politically powerful cousins ended badly in 2015, leaving behind millions of dollars in debts and thousands of dollars in delinquent taxes, according to a review of records by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Read the full story at myajc.com

Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is a leading contender to serve as Donald Trump’s agriculture secretary

About the Authors

Politics Editor

Follow Shannon McCaffrey on twitter
Aaron Gould Sheinin
More Stories

Keep Reading

Greene County head football coach Darius Robinson, seen here celebrating with his team after a win in October, was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News)

Credit: Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

The Greene County High coach was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of simple battery, according to investigators.

Georgia Power, PSC staff strike deal for $16B expansion to power data centers

Georgia Power and the Public Service Commission’s staff unveiled a deal that would allow the utility to build huge amounts of new power plants, mostly to serve data centers.

Warnock renews push for enhanced job training with bipartisan bill

Employers that come to Georgia “are having a hard time finding workers with the education they need,” U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said in a written statement.

The Latest

Greene County head football coach Darius Robinson, seen here celebrating with his team after a win in October, was relieved of coaching duties after his arrest, the Greene County School District said. (Lance McCurley/Lake Oconee News)

Georgia high school coach choked player, put another in headlock, warrants say

Sweet Tea: Use your time wisely

A.M. ATL: It’s actually happening

Featured

Students line up after school for school buses at Sequoyah Middle School in Doraville on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. The school’s principal told teachers not to talk to students about ICE, and teachers and activists are pushing back. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

DeKalb students raise fears about ICE raids; teachers told not to talk about it

The Sequoyah Middle School community asked DeKalb school officials to better support students who fear ICE.

Two-day effort helps free endangered right whale off Georgia coast

Georgia state officials helped disentangle a North American right whale, one of the most endangered whales on the planet.

Report: Election board member violated conduct code by going to Trump rally

A Georgia Inspector General's report found State Election Board Vice Chair Janice Johnston violated the board's code of conduct by attending a Donald Trump campaign rally.