Ethics complaints against Better GA, Real PAC dismissed

The state ethics commission on Wednesday made the unprecedented move of awarding attorneys fees to the subject of a frivolous complaint.

The commission, formally known as the Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, voted unanimously to award $500 in fees to the liberal activist group Better Georgia. The move came after the commission voted to dismiss a complaint filed by St. Mary’s resident James Burnham. Burnham agreed to pay the $500.

It is the first time the commission has used its power to award attorneys fees.

There was almost a second instance Wednesday. The commission also unanimously dismissed a complaint against Real PAC, the political action committee formed by allies of Gov. Nathan Deal. The complaint, filed by ethics watchdog George Anderson, accused the group of violating disclosure laws and other rules, but the commission found the complaint frivolous and considered awarding attorneys fees.

But Ben Vinson, an attorney for Real PAC, said the organization is essentially defunct and there is no one to accept the fees.

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Aaron Gould Sheinin

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