Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey has requested the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to review whether Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove broke the law by paying to have an investigation of county employees and private citizens.

In a press statement today, Storey said he asked the CBI to investigate the case and then present its findings to a special prosecutor who has not yet been appointed.

His letter to the CBI states: "Recent newspaper articles have alleged that public monies have been paid to a private investigator with ties to a sitting Jefferson County commissioner for what has been described as ‘spying’ on other public employees and private citizens."

He said both his office and the sheriff’s office can’t handle the case because of the appearance of a conflict of interest.

He said the CBI should not communicate its findings directly to the district attorney’s office.

The Rocky has previously reported that Congrove allegedly initiated investigations into current and former county employees using a private detective agency and paying for it with county funds.