HOUSTON -- The Harris County District Attorney's Office is investigating an allegation of criminal wrongdoing by Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.

District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal told KPRC Local 2 that there are questions about whether Alvarado asked her employees to perform tasks unrelated to city business. The exact nature of the jobs was not disclosed, but it could be illegal if the tasks were carried out while the employees were on the clock for the city.

So far, Alvarado has been cleared in the probe of improper bonuses, totaling more than $140,000, given to four employees in her mayor pro tem's office. Rosie Hernandez, Christopher Mays, Florence Watkins and Teresa Orta were later fired and are appealing the terminations.

At least one of the four former employees made the allegations about Alvarado, Rosenthal said.

"It seems, sometimes, in these sorts of situations, people make allegations about others. These are absolutely false. We're ready to talk to the district attorney whenever he's ready to talk to council member Alvarado," said Joe Householder, Alvarado's spokesman.

"I'm sure we'll want to talk to her. Her lawyer has indicated that anything that we need, she's available to give us," Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal would not say if investigators have found evidence to support the accusation, but said it is something they are looking into.

The district attorney's office said that every allegation that is made or is yet to be made regarding Alvarado or any other city official or city employee is looked at.

"We just hope everybody respects the investigative process and allows it to run its course before coming to any conclusions," Householder said.

Rosenthal would not say how long the process might take.