OLATHE, Kan. -- Johnson County commissioners agreed to keep available $25,000 for District Attorney Phill Kline's investigation of former Attorney General Paul Morrison.

Kline went to commissioners in December and asked for the funds to help him initiate the investigation. Morrison is accused of having an extramarital affair with a subordinate in the Johnson County District Attorney's Office when he headed that office.

"If in fact the judgment comes down, the investigation comes down and finds Mr. Morrison guilty of something, no one will ever believe it," said board chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh. "It should be independent, so whatever the outcome is, everyone can believe."

After lengthy debate on whether to let Kline use public money, the commissioners voted 4-3 Thursday to keep the money available.

Earlier this month, Kline appointed Timothy Keck and Robert Arnold III to investigate whether Morrison broke any laws during the affair. Keck worked for Kline in the district attorney's office for about a year before entering private practice with Arnold.