The state ethics commission on Wednesday voted retroactively to approve a request to the state auditor seeking an investigation and performance review.
The commission, formally known as the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, unanimously approved the decision.
The commission already voted in September to ask Attorney General Sam Olens to appoint a special investigator to probe ongoing issues at the commission that include claims of improper conduct, preferential treatment for Gov. Nathan Deal and a pair of whistle-blower lawsuits.
That request to Olens was never officially made, however, and in October commission Chairman Kevin Abernethy asked the state auditor for an agency inquest. The decision to move from Olens' office to the state auditor had not been made by the commission until now.
Abernethy responded to critics who wanted the outside investigation by quoting state law that gives the auditor broad power to subpoena witnesses and compel testimony and said Olens' team would be able to act to prosecute if any criminal activity is found.
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