INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana House Ethics Committee has hired an outside attorney to investigate allegations that House Speaker Brian Bosma used campaign funds to collect unflattering information about a former intern who claims she had a sexual encounter with him decades ago.

House Ethics Chairwoman Sharon Negele tells The Indianapolis Star that Indianapolis attorney Bonnie Martin was hired to conduct an “independent review” of the allegations.

The Star reports Martin has interviewed the former intern and relatives.

It is alleged that Bosma paid a law firm more than $40,000 in campaign funds to gather information about the woman. He denies the claim.