The Alabama Ethics Commission found probable cause today that Sen. David Burkette, D-Montgomery, violated the ethics law.

The commission voted to refer the case to prosecutors for further investigation. The commission did not release any information about the nature of the alleged violation. The vote came after the commission held a closed-door meeting to hear evidence, as is its standard practice.

Burkette’s attorney, Al Agricola, also declined to say anything about the alleged violation, saying it was covered by the grand jury secrecy law.

“We look forward to the opportunity to present our case as appropriate and we hope for a good outcome,” Agricola said.

Burkette, a retired public school teacher and coach, was elected last year to his first full term in the Senate.

Before serving in the Senate, Burkette was a member of the Montgomery City Council. The probable cause resolution approved by the Ethics Commission today referred to Burkette as a former city council member.

Ethics Commission Chairman Charles Price recused himself from the vote, which was 4-0.

Cases referred by the Ethics Commission can go district attorneys or to the attorney general’s office. The Montgomery Advertiser reported that the attorney general’s office would be handling Burkette’s case.

Burkette did not attend today’s hearing. He is still recovering from the effects of a stroke he suffered in December 2018.

In another case, the commission found probable cause that Anniston City Councilman Jay Jenkins violated the ethics law and referred that case to prosecutors. Efforts to reach Jenkins were unsuccessful. No information about his case was immediately available.

Updated at 5:04 p.m. to add the commission’s finding on Jay Jenkins. Updated at 7:42 a.m. on Oct. 3 to say that attorney general’s office would handle Burkette investigation and add commission vote on the case.