Olathe ? Johnson County’s incoming district attorney said Thursday that he doesn’t plan to reopen an investigation of former Attorney General Paul Morrison.

Two special prosecutors have declined to file criminal charges over Morrison’s actions during an extramarital affair that forced him from office.

District Attorney Phill Kline appointed the special prosecutors. Steve Howe, who defeated Kline in the Republican primary in August, replaces him Jan. 12.

Morrison’s former mistress had alleged professional misconduct by him, which he denied. The special prosecutors, Robert Arnold III and Timothy Keck, said Wednesday that they had found insufficient evidence of potential crimes, and Kline expressed “full faith” in their decision.

“On first blush, it looks like that would end the discussion about it,” Howe said during an interview. “I do not plan on opening that case back up.”

Morrison’s ex-lover, Linda Carter, had worked in the Johnson County district attorney’s office for Morrison and Kline. She has alleged that after Morrison became attorney general, he tried to use her to influence a federal lawsuit against Kline and to gather sensitive information on Kline’s investigation of an abortion clinic.

Kline also appointed Arnold and Keck to investigate whether Morrison engaged in blackmail or telephone harassment during his affair or as it soured.

Morrison’s attorney said Wednesday that any allegations of criminal wrongdoing were “misleading and false.”

Howe said he would have a conflict of interest in investigating Morrison. Howe worked as an assistant district attorney for Morrison for 16 years and was fired by Kline when he took over the district attorney’s office in January 2007.

Howe said it was best to have independent special prosecutors investigate Morrison, adding, “You abide by their decisions and move forward.”

Kline, an anti-abortion Republican, was attorney general, and Morrison, an abortion-rights supporter, was Johnson County district attorney when Morrison switched from the Republican to Democratic parties and successfully challenged Kline’s re-election in 2006. Republicans then chose Kline to finish Morrison’s term as Johnson County district attorney.

Morrison stepped down as attorney general at the end of January 2008, after acknowledging his affair with Carter. She has said it began in September 2005 and lasted more than two years.