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RALEIGH -- North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper confirmed in a letter to state Senate Republican leader Phil Berger that SBI agents are investigating former Gov. Mike Easley.

The letter, written by Cooper's chief of staff, reads in part, “Attorney General Cooper, earlier this year, directed the State Bureau of Investigation to investigate matters related to the former governor and other issues. Our agents have been working with the U.S. attorney's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“Attorney General Cooper believes that investigations of public officials are serious matters which require diligent and impartial analysis, which is why he does not comment on current investigations.”

Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas seeking information about Easley's travel on private aircraft and a marina renovation. Prosecutors also want to know about former first lady Mary Easley's job at N.C. State University.

At issue is whether Easley abused his power and took part in any criminal activity while in office.

Berger sent another letter to the attorney general asking for an independent prosecutor to handle the case.

"Given North Carolina's recent history of public corruption, given the fact that in many incidences, those individuals were Democrats and the Attorney General is a Democrat and the former Governor is a Democrat," Berger said.

But Cooper's letter rejected Berger's request for a special prosecutor saying that authority lies with the district attorney where the incidents occurred.

Berger said North Carolinians are skeptical enough of their elected leaders. He also criticized Gov. Bev Perdue's lack of involvement in the case and criticized state Democrats for playing what he called a carousel game with high-level state offices.

"It's almost a musical chairs aspect, where they're in one position and then in another position," Berger said. "That calls for having somebody independent. Somebody who's not connected to either the current administration or the former administration conduct these investigations."