Topeka ? Kansas Bioscience Authority funds are being used to pay the legal fees of former CEO Tom Thornton as an audit and investigation into his tenure continues.

Invoices obtained Friday by The Associated Press show the KBA has spent more than $51,000 in public funds to Jim Eisenbrandt and a fellow law partner to represent Thornton. The fees began in April 2011 shortly after Thornton resigned and a forensic audit was started.

The KBA’s bylaws provide for the agency to pay legal fees for its top executives in matters related to their tenure. The KBA is has also paid more than $9,500 for attorneys representing former Jan Katterhenry, the KBA’s former chief financial officer.

The audit was critical of Thornton, finding instances of destruction of documents and misuse of funds.