A leading Republican candidate for Georgia governor reportedly bought a downtown Atlanta condominium from a lobbyist at what appeared to be a discount.
The New York Times , citing real estate records, says Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle bought the one-bedroom condo 10 years ago at 24 percent less than its appraised value. It was bought from Terry E. Hobbs, a lobbyist who represents natural gas marketer SCANA. Cagle sold the condo last year at a 29 percent profit.
Sara Henderson is executive director of Common Cause Georgia, a government watchdog group. She says the sale raises suspicions of pay-to-play.
But Cagle told the paper the sale was "a legitimate transaction" and Hobbs had not lobbied him on any issue around the time of the sale.
Cagle faces a July 24 runoff for the Republican nomination for governor.