Ex-congressman, Ga. candidate for governor Nathan Deal disputes panel’s ethics allegations

Ex-Ga. congressman disputes ethics allegations

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A former congressman running for governor in Georgia disputed claims Tuesday that he may have broken ethics rules with his auto salvage business.

Republican Nathan Deal said he had done nothing wrong and blamed the media and congressional investigators for “distorting the truth” in a politically-motivated effort to upend his gubernatorial bid. On Monday, the Office of Congressional Ethics released a report that suggested Deal may have violated House ethics rules when he lobbied Georgia officials not to change a state program that had funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into his business.

“Sometimes in the world of politics there is a price to be paid for doing what’s right,” a defiant Deal told reporters at a news conference in his hometown of Gainesville. “Over the last couple of days, I have seen those who would exact a price from me.”

The bipartisan ethics panel voted to release the 138-page report one week after Deal resigned from Congress, a move he said was made to let him focus on his bid for governor. The ethics panel’s investigation ended when Deal stepped down.

However, the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, has asked the Justice Department to launch a criminal probe of his business dealings with the state.

Deal resigned his seat immediately after voting against the Democratic-backed federal health care legislation.

He called the decision to release the report “political payback.” He said while the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics is bipartisan, its staff is controlled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat.

The congressional report said Deal exceeded limits on outside income. Deal reported he was paid $75,000 in wages in 2008 by his auto salvage business. Congressional caps limit outside income to $25,830.

Deal, one of seven Republicans vying to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue, blamed an accounting error and said the $75,000 should have been listed as dividends rather than earned income. He said he has three years of amended tax returns.

The report also suggested Deal may have improperly used his office to intervene with state Department of Revenue on behalf of his business. Georgia’s revenue commissioner was considering changes to the program that would have introduced more competition.

Deal said the safety of auto inspections — not profit — was behind his decision to get involved.

The allegations against Deal were first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2009.