Deal accused of ethics breach in watchdog group complaint

By Aaron Gould Sheinin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A non-profit watchdog group in Washington has filed a complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics against U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, claiming the Georgia Republican violated House rules and federal law.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed the complaint Wednesday in response to an investigative report in Sunday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Deal had intervened with state officials in a matter that directly concerned a business he owned.

CREW’s complaint contends Deal “may have committed a federal crime by using his positions and congressional resources to engage in self-dealing, thereby depriving his constituents of his honest services.”

The AJC reported Sunday that Deal, a 2010 Republican candidate for governor, pressed state leaders, including Revenue Commissioner Bart Graham, to preserve a state program that earns his company about $300,000 a year and him personally up to $150,000 a year.

Graham had wanted to privatize and expand the state’s system for inspecting salvaged vehicles. Deal and a business partner, Ken Cronan, own Recovery Services Inc., one of five businesses designated by the state as locations for salvage inspections. While Deal is not paid by the state, the company earns $100 per vehicle inspected. In 2008, more than 2,800 inspections were done at their Gainesville operation.

Deal and Cronan, through the efforts of Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a political ally of Deal’s, met on three occasions with Graham regarding the commissioner’s plans for the inspection system. Deal’s congressional chief of staff, Chris Riley, also sent several e-mails about Deal’s business to state officials from his congressional e-mail account.

Deal said he was simply acting as any businessman would and that he was serving his constituents’ interests.

In an e-mail from his congressional office, Deal on Wednesday said he will cooperate with any investigation.

“I welcome the opportunity to defend myself and my office from this allegation that has been made,” the e-mail said. “The implication that I intervened with state officials to benefit myself is completely outrageous and false. I look forward to a speedy resolution as not to distract from my duties and service to the Ninth District of Georgia.”

CREW executive director Melanie Sloan said she sees “a clear-cut violation” of House rules and says Deal’s claim that he was helping constituents is “pretty transparent.”

The Office of Congressional Ethics will conduct a preliminary review of CREW’s complaint, Sloan said. If the office finds that it merits further review, it will conduct an investigation. If an investigation finds that Deal violated federal law, the House ethics committee will consider punishment.

Sloan, whose organization regularly files ethics complaints against members of Congress, believes Deal will eventually face punishment.

House ethics officials, she said, “don’t do much, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them do something here. Deal has to at least be admonished and told this isn’t appropriate.”

CREW’s complaint comes a day after a north Georgia Republican activist asked the U.S. House Committee on Standards to look into the matter.

Aleq Boyle said he hopes any inquiry exonerates Deal but said the truth needs to be known.