Georgia: Questions arise over Deal's legal payments

[d_r]

Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press

ATLANTA — Republican gubernatorial hopeful Nathan Deal tapped his state gubernatorial campaign account to pay more than $19,000 in legal fees to defend against congressional ethics allegations.

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The state ethics commission said it was unclear whether the expenditures violated campaign law, which stipulates that campaign funds must be used for "ordinary and necessary expenses" related to running for office. Whether a congressional ethics investigation falls into that category appears to be gray area in Georgia.

Ethics Commission acting executive secretary Tom Plank said he could find no advisory opinion or precedent addressing the use of a state fund to pay for legal fees incurred as part of a federal probe.

Read more: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/apr/09/georgia-questions-arise-over-deals-legal-payments/?breakingnews

[defendandprotect]

1. K/R

[Historic NY]

2. Shouldn't the public be entitled to know what the allegations were?

In the very least the donors or potential donors.

[groundloop]

3. Makes me puke thinking that a crook like Deal (or Oxendine) could be our next governor

[DallasNE]

4. It Looks To Me Like

Expenses for criminal defense legal fees have become so widespread in Georgia that they are now considered normal. Is this guy also the Tea Bagger candidate?

The only thing worse than a Republican candidate is a Tea Bagger Republican candidate.