Ethics Claim Filed Against Jason Carter

At issue, according to the complaint filed last week, is a New York fundraiser held three days after the session ended. The $1,000-a-plate event featured the gubernatorial candidate and his grandfather, former President Jimmy Carter.

Douglas writes in the complaint the invites and donation requests were sent out before the session ended, which he called “unethical and illegal.”

“It’s difficult for me to understand how they could make all the arrangements necessary, how all the logistics, all that sort of thing, to have a former president of the United States present for a  reception if they only two days to put it together and get the invitations out,” Douglas told WABE.

The Carter campaign has argued the fundraiser benefited the Georgia Democratic Party, not the campaign, and was therefore permitted under state law.

Douglas, however, disputes that claim. He said “the smoking gun” is the line at the bottom of the invite that says “Paid for and Authorized by Carter For Governor, Inc.”

“That sort of shoots a hole in their contention that this was something for a number of other democratic candidates as well,” he said.

Carter campaign spokesperson Bryan Thomas called the complaint “frivolous.”

“This is nothing but a pathetic and transparent attempt to deflect attention from the never-ending quagmire that Gov. Deal finds himself in,” he said.

Thomas said if the complaint isn’t withdrawn, the Carter campaign will file an ethics complaint against Gov. Nathan Deal over an appearance he made at a fundraiser for the Republican Governor’s Association, which has aired ads on behalf of the governor.

“Gov. Deal’s daughter-in-law, who is his fundraiser, organized a fundraiser in downtown Atlanta in the middle of the legislative session for $10,000 per person. If there is any substance to the attack that they’re putting out there, this is in violation of those same requirements,” Thomas said.

Douglas says he has no plans to drop the complaint.

Deal spokesperson Jen Talaber campaign says the complaint against Carter has merit and doesn’t plan to get involved.

“The Carter campaign’s threat to file a complaint against Deal for Governor’s perfectly legal fundraiser (the event was paid for by the RGA and the donations went to that entity) is a desperate attempt to deflect,” Talaber wrote in a statement. “They know they were wrong. The Carter campaign is using the ethics committee to play politics with taxpayer dollars.”

**UPDATE: Thomas, in a statement, says in response to the governor’s refusal to reject Douglas’ complaint, the Carter campaign has filed two ethics complaints against Deal. One involves the Republican Governors Association appearance. The other involves an invitation for a Deal for Governor event the Carter campaign says was sent during the legislative session.**