RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A former North Carolina legislator and recent aide to House Speaker Tim Moore says he was paid tens of thousands of dollars for unused sick leave because of a misunderstanding.

Republican Mitch Gillespie stopped working for Moore last April, but The News & Observer of Raleigh reports several months of sick leave helped him push back his retirement date. Records showed he received roughly $70,000 from that leave, even though state personnel policies don't provide for that practice.

Gillespie showed the newspaper a letter from the legislature's human resources director citing "a miscommunication" from staff about how sick leave can be used. Gillespie wouldn't say whether he'll repay any or all the money.

Gillespie served in the House and later the state environmental department before joining Moore's office in 2015.