The commissioner of political practices said a senior official in the governor's administration contacted him outside of official proceedings in an ongoing ethics case.

Commissioner Dennis Unsworth, who acts like a judge in the proceedings, said he was contacted by Gov. Brian Schweitzer's senior counsel, Eric Stern.

Unsworth said Stern complained about a decision made in the case, asked for documents and pointed out key points from a previous hearing.

The conversations are not allowed outside official proceedings, according to a lawyer for the state Republican Party, who is asking for a hearing to determine what was said.

Schweitzer's attorney said there is no basis for such an action.

The Montana Republican Party filed the complaint against Schweitzer, a Democrat, over a law banning certain public service announcements.

"These are some very serious allegations against Mr. Stern who is a senior official with the Schweitzer administration, and I think that should be very concerning to all Montanans," Montana Republican Party Executive Director Jake Eaton said.

Stern declined comment, but said a recent statement from the Schweitzer administration's attorney would "speak for itself."

"The only possible benefit to the Republicans from their request for a ‘hearing' is to continue their unremitting effort to milk these proceedings for some political gain for the Republicans," attorney Peter Meloy said in a letter to the hearings officer from the administration.

In his letter, Meloy implies the Schweitzer administration would be glad to leave the final decision in the ethics case up to the hearings officer since Unsworth's position has been questioned.

The original ethics case in question deals with Schweitzer recording a public service announcement for the Lewistown radio station.