FRANKFORT - An allegation that someone in Gov. Paul Patton's office warned a nursing home owner of an impending state inspection prompted some internal questioning Wednesday, Mr. Patton's staff attorney said.

        The “informal review” failed to unearth anything. A full-fledged investigation by federal and state authorities would be welcomed, Denis Fleming, general counsel for the governor's office, said in an interview.

        Tina Conner, who is suing Mr. Patton for sexual harassment, gave state and federal investigators the name of an alleged tipster in Mr. Patton's office on Tuesday, according to her lawyer.

        Ms. Conner owns Birchtree Healthcare, a nursing home in Clinton, and claims she got extraordinary assistance from the administration during an affair with Mr. Patton from 1997 to 1999. That included advance warning of at least one state inspection, Ms. Conner claims.

        Ms. Conner also claims that Mr. Patton had inspectors crack down on Birchtree after she ended their relationship.

        Mr. Patton has acknowledged the affair but denied any misuse of state authority. He specifically disputed Ms. Conner's claim to have been tipped off.

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