Alabama agency ends a probe into events surrounding the publication of Harper Lee’s new novel

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – An Alabama official says a state agency closed an inquiry into whether the deal to publish Harper Lee’s upcoming novel involved financial fraud.

Some in Lee’s hometown of Monroeville questioned whether the 88-year-old “To Kill A Mockingbird” author was capable of consenting to the second novel’s publication. A longtime friend says she is mostly deaf, blind and in poor health.

Alabama Securities Commission Director Joseph Borg said Thursday his agency reviewed the matter at the Department of Human Resources’ request. Borg said Lee answered questions to an investigator’s satisfaction, so they closed the file.

A high-ranking state official said DHR had opened its investigation after the second novel’s announcement. The status of the DHR investigation was unclear. The official wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.