Ethics watchdog ranks Deal as one of nation’s worst governors

• Joeff Davis/CL File
• ‘Do I at least get a plaque for this?’

Gov. Nathan Deal has earned a new title from an ethics watchdog group: he’s now one of the worst governors in America.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington yesterday released a report that looks at the “shady and unethical conduct” of governors in all 50 states. Based on performance reviews, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal was grouped alongside Maine Gov. Paul LePage, Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as the nation’s worst state leaders.

“CREW’s research reveals many state leaders aren’t always looking out for their constituents’ best interests,” CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said in a statement. “It seems some governors are more interested in what their states can do for them rather than what they can do for their states.”

The groups says Deal received the ranking for his alleged role in several different incidents. In particular, those included the hiring of his daughter-in-law during his 2010 gubernatorial campaign, his ties to a controversial auto salvage yard, a land deal that benefitted his campaign chairman, the creation of a Georgia Public Broadcasting position filled by former state Sen. Chip Rogers, and his possible influence on state ethics investigations.

The full report, which goes into extensive detail about each alleged allegation, can be read after the jump. We’ve asked Deal’s office for comment and will update if we hear back.

UPDATE, 1:49 p.m. Deal’s spokesman Brian Robinson responds!

We’re releasing a list too. We’ve named CREW as the No. 1 Biggest Fraud Group in Washington - and that’s saying something in that swamp. CREW has baselessly attacked an upstanding and ethical leader for years now, and we’ve disproven every charge. But you don’t have to take our word that this is just a partisan attack organization masquerading as an objective watchdog. Just look at the list. They say 2/3 of Republican governors are corrupt but one Democrat gets mentioned. No credible news organization would publish anything so clearly biased and, in our case, proven untrue.