DENVER -- The office of Legislative Legal Services released details of a complaint filed against a lobbyist accused of trying to influence a legislative leadership election.

The complaint, released Friday, was outlined in a letter written by Representative-Elect Cindy Acree to House Minority Leader Mike May.

In that letter, Acree told May about several phone calls she'd received from members of the Chiropractors Association asking for meetings prior to a vote for a new House Minority Leader.

May had earlier announced his intention to resign from the legislature to spend more time tending to his family's business.

Representatives David Balmer and Frank McNulty were vying for May's leadership position.

Acree wrote in her letter that "some of the messages (from the chiropractors) state that they had checks for me as they had promised before the election.

"She told May, "One stated that he was calling to get my support for David Balmer for House Minority Leader."

When May learned about the allegations, he reversed his decision to resign.

"I called the Speaker and told him we have a little more work to do before we leave here," May said.

May added that there was a second complaint filed against a member of the House.

"The complaint against the member was filed by me," he said. "I thought it was my duty to file that."

"Our government needs to be transparent. The citizens of Colorado need to know that we do business properly and we can police ourselves," May told reporters.

But some people question that.

"I don't think they should be the only ones to look at this," said Luis Toro, senior counsel at Colorado Ethics Watch.

Toro told 7NEWS that laws may have been broken and that criminal authorities should also be investigating.

He commended May for deciding to stay on the job until the ethics scandal is resolved and budget problems are dealt with.

He said it's good that lawmakers are trying to get to the bottom of what happened.

"They often do a good job," Toro said. "But there is always a little inherent bias when you're investigating your friend."

The lobbyist at the center of this issue filed an affidavit with the House of Representatives Friday.

"Before initiating the process to address any complaints against my professional activities as a registered lobbyist, I feel compelled to clarify the fact that Representative Balmer had no involvement whatsoever in this situation," Erik Groves stated in the affidavit. "Nobody, including Representative Balmer, ever asked me to act in any way regarding the Minority Leader vacancy. My actions were my own and involved nobody else."

May says the investigative process will be transparent.

According to House Rule 49, if the ethics committee determines that no violation occurred on the part of the House member, the complaint is dismissed. If it's determined that there is probable cause, the House member can request a hearing that will be open to the public.

Punishment can include censure, reprimand or expulsion. Expulsion requires a 2/3 vote of all House members.

According to Joint Rule 36, if the Executive Committee determines that a complaint against a lobbyist is valid, then a committee is appointed to interview all parties involved. All proceedings of the committee are open to the public.

Punishment may include suspension of lobbying privileges, a letter of admonition or a recommendation of censure by the General Assembly.