No federal grand jury is investigating former Congressman Nathan Deal, contrary to published reports and numerous ads by his opponents, the lawyer for the Republican gubernatorial candidate says.

"There is no grand jury. That's just not true," said Randy Evans, who also has represented Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin and other notable Republicans facing ethics charges.

First GOP primary foe Karen Handel and now Democrat Roy Barnes have used talk of such a probe as a battering ram.

Barnes is airing TV ads claiming that - if elected - Deal could be distracted from his duties by a grand jury probe and argues that such ethical questions should disqualify him from being governor.

The speculation stems from claims then-Congressman Deal lobbied Georgia officials about his company's lucrative business arrangement with the state.