### Former Rep. Nathan Deal's Ethics Probe Halts After Resignation, Revisiting a Controversial Moment in Congress

In a shift that reshaped the landscape of Georgia politics, former U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal resigned his House seat in 2010 amidst a fierce Republican primary race for governor. His abrupt departure halted an active ethics investigation scrutinizing his business dealings with the state. The Office of Congressional Ethics, an independent body, had released a report accusing Deal of exceeding outside income limits and leveraging his congressional position to safeguard a lucrative state contract for his company—allegations that Deal's team adamantly denied.

This maneuver was notable because resigning effectively ends House Ethics Committee investigations, as their jurisdiction extends only to current members. The Senate is now facing a similar scenario involving Matt Gaetz. The House Ethics Committee postponed a vote on releasing its report on Gaetz due to his sudden resignation, two days before the scheduled meeting, amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

The debate about whether to release the report has split opinions. House Speaker Mike Johnson opposes it, while figures like Republican U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, and former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have expressed interest in reviewing the findings, highlighting its significance in Gaetz's potential confirmation as attorney general.

Reflecting on Deal’s case, his resignation disrupted Georgia’s Republican landscape during a vital health care vote in 2010, fueling claims by his opponents that he was evading scrutiny and costing the party crucial legislative support. Deal dismissed the investigation as a politically driven witch hunt by Democrats. Despite the controversy, he narrowly won the gubernatorial nomination over Karen Handel and eventually triumphed in the general election against former Governor Roy Barnes.

In his subsequent tenure as governor, Deal continued to navigate through additional ethics inquiries, underscoring the ongoing relevance of legislative ethics in political careers.