Commissioner: State auditor to handle ethics probe

ATLANTA - The chairman of the state ethics commission says the state auditor will handle an outside investigation into circumstances surrounding two lawsuits filed against the agency, as well as unspecified personnel issues.

Chairman Kevin Abernethy said in a statement Tuesday to The Associated Press that the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts is charged with investigating allegations of mismanagement or misconduct by an employee of a state agency and has agreed to investigate.

The board of the ethics commission voted three weeks ago to request an outside investigation. Abernethy declined further comment.

The commission has been sued by its former executive secretary and her former assistant, who claim retaliation for work investigating ethics complaints filed against Gov. Nathan Deal. Those lawsuits are pending in Fulton County Superior Court.