Atlanta, Ga. - July 15, 2014 - Senate Democrats today asked for further investigation into Gov. Nathan Deal's and Attorney General Sam Olen's involvement in violations of Georgia's ethics standards and practices. Senate Democrats say the investigation by federal authorities needs to be escalated.
Yesterday, Holly LaBerge, the Executive Secretary of the Republican-controlled state ethics commission, said in media interviews that a top staffer threatened her in the investigation of Gov. Nathan Deal.
According to a memo sent by LaBerge to the Attorney General, Ryan Teague, Deal's chief counsel, illegally attempted to influence the ethics commission's investigation of the Governor by threatening to kill legislation that would restore rule making authority to the Commission should the Deal investigation go to a public hearing.
"It is an absolutely unacceptable violation of the public trust that staffers acting on Deal's behalf were making quid pro quo threats to impede the ethics commission's investigation into the Governor's campaign finance violations," said Henson.
Laberge claims she was instructed not to mention threats made by Ryan Teague, special counsel to Nathan Deal, or a memo she sent to Attorney General Sam Olens. Her allegations raise the possibility that the AG's office engaged in criminal witness tampering.
"Witness tampering in Georgia isn't limited to physical threats. An attempt to persuade a witness by 'means of corruption' is sufficient to qualify as witness intimation, said Steve Henson, leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Additionally, if LaBerge claims that her job was threatened that would clearly be intimidation, said Henson.
In a memorandum from LaBerge to the Attorney General dated July 17, 2012, it appears that, despite the clear allegation of illegal behavior, the AG did nothing on the case.
"The appearances of a cover up are at play," said Sen. Vincent Fort, whip of the Senate Caucus. "Even if Olens didn't break the law by declining to investigate, it is still unacceptable that he was covering for Deal. While Olens' office denies that they received the letter until late last year, this very much raises a 'what did you know, and when did you know it' situation," Fort said.
The AG did not release LaBerge's memo during discovery for the Kalberman case.
"While we would have to see the discovery requests to know whether or not the memo was actually in the scope of the discovery request, the AG's response is definitely suspect," said Henson.
Senate Democrats said this is supporting evidence that the AG engaged in a cover-up with Deal.
"Obviously, all the facts are not on the table, so any statements or actions need to reflect that, but continued calls for investigations of the alleged wrongdoing are most certainly appropriate," said Fort.
Senate Democrats have repeatedly called for ethics commission reform, including independent members and a set funding mechanism.
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