SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is refusing to release an investigative report into sexual harassment allegations against his predecessor.

The Democrat declined a follow-up Freedom of Information Act request on Tuesday from The Associated Press seeking a copy of the investigative report. Ex-Treasurer Dan Rutherford hired a firm to review the allegations from an ex-employee that sunk the GOP treasurer's campaign for governor.

Spokeswoman Paris Ervin says Frerichs wants to release the report by Ron Braver & Associates, but Attorney General Lisa Madigan asked him not to because the ex-employee, Edmund Michalowski, filed a federal lawsuit against Rutherford.

Rutherford denied requests for the report last February by the AP and other news media organizations. The AP and others renewed the requests when Frerichs took office Jan. 12.

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