Alvarado now subject of DA's investigation

KPRC is reporting that the DA's investigation into the City Hall payroll scandal has widened to include possible criminal wrongdoing by City Councilwoman and former Mayor Pro Tem Carol Alvarado. Harris County DA Chuck Rosenthal told Channel 2 that there are questions about whether Alvarado told employees in the mayor pro tem office to perform "tasks unrelated to city business." Though it isn't clear exactly what the tasks were, KPRC said they would be illegal if they were done while employees were on the clock with their city jobs.

So far, Alvarado hasn't been involved in the investigations into what officials say were nearly $200,000 in unauthorized payraises and bonuses the mayor pro tem employees took, though she did temporarily step down from her post as mayor pro tem. Alvarado's spokesman said any allegations that Alvarado told employees to perform illegal tasks are "absolutely false" and added that she is willing to talk to Rosenthal at any time.

Rosenthal said at least one of the four pro tem employees fired earlier this month made the allegations against Alvarado, but he didn't say whether investigators have found evidence to back the allegations up.