Deal won't have to testify in ethics agency trial

ATLANTA (AP) A judge has ruled Gov. Nathan Deal doesn't have to testify in the civil case of a former state ethics commission employee who alleges retaliation for investigating complaints against the governor.

The judge ruled Monday, as jury selection was set to begin. State attorneys had argued Deal has no personal knowledge of the facts in the case.

Stacey Kalberman is the former executive secretary at the ethics commission. She claims commissioners cut her salary and eliminated her deputy's position as she sought approval to issue subpoenas as part of the agency's investigation of Deal's 2010 campaign reports and financial disclosures.

Commissioners have denied wrongdoing. Deal has said he wasn't involved. The governor was later cleared of major violations in the ethics probe and agreed to pay $3,350 in administrative fees.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/3/273169