Accused of Misusing State Computers, Georgia Ethics Chief Is Suspended

The state ethics commission suspended its director with pay Tuesday amid allegations that he misused state computers. Stefan Ritter, who has been the commission's executive director since 2015, called allegations first reported Monday by the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News "untrue," adding that he had not seen the complaints against him. "I certainly am not going to think this is appropriate," Ritter said when asked whether he planned to fight the allegations that he misused his state computer. "I haven't even seen any allegations. It's puzzling to me."  After an hourlong executive session, the commission voted to suspend Ritter, based, as Chairman Jake Evans said, "upon the allegations of improper workplace conduct." Evans will oversee an investigation and hire outside counsel to look into the complaints made against Ritter.