Release: DPG Chair Responds to News of Multi-Million Dollar Settlements in Ethics Lawsuits Involving Nathan Deal

Release:  Friday, June 13, 2014      

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Responds to News of Multi-Million Dollar Settlements in Ethics Lawsuits Involving Nathan Deal

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter released the following statement in response to news that the State of Georgia will settle the two remaining civil lawsuits against its ethics commission. In May, the state agreed to pay former ethics commission head Stacey Kalberman $1.3 million. Reports say the second and third settlements will total $1.8 million—moving the final amount to more than $3 million. All three lawsuits are related to an investigation into Gov. Nathan Deal’s 2010 campaign.

“What I really have to say is not fit for print. It must be nice to not have to pay for your own ethics violations—but after decades of living off of taxpayer money, why wouldn’t Nathan Deal expect us to pay for this too?

“It’s reprehensible that hospitals are closing, students are being cheated out of the education they deserve, our state agencies have been stripped of funding to the point that we can’t protect children in danger, yet our governor can find enough money in our state budget to sweep his election-year headaches under the rug.

“Apparently an aversion to embarrassing ethics trials and a win-at-all-costs mindset are enough to burden taxpayers with the consequences of Nathan Deal’s own unethical behavior. But avoiding accountability as a campaign strategy is just flat out wrong. Voters won’t—and should not—forget this.”

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BACKGROUND

AJC 6/13/14 – State settles all remaining ethics commission cases

DPG 5/28/14 – Deal Finally Admits His Office Advised Ethics Commission on Replacing the Executive Director

WABE 5/22/14 – Campaign 2014: A Conversation with Republican Governor Nathan Deal

DPG via WSB – Nathan Deal Suggests New Restrictions for Good Government Whistleblowers