AUGUSTA — A state representative from Alfred could learn the fate of his seat in the House by the end of this month, House Speaker Robert Nutting said.

Rep. David Burns, R-Alfred, is the subject of an Attorney General investigation after a state ethics panel found in November that he violated multiple election finance laws when running for state representative.

Those findings this week cost Burns his seat on the Alfred Board of Selectmen. Burns resigned from the three-member board on Tuesday after the ethics case generated questions and criticism from residents of the town.

Burns was back at work in the State House Thursday. He declined comment for this story, citing his attorney’s advice.

Assistant House Majority Leader Andre Cushing, R- Hampden, said the GOP leadership is waiting for a report from the Attorney General’s office about potential criminal violations before deciding whether to take any action or remove Burns from his House seat.

“It’s up to him” at this point, Cushing said. “We’re not in a posture where we will take any action until we know what the courts would say.”

Nutting, R-Oakland, has also said that Burns remains a member in good standing, at least until the Attorney General reports back.

Nutting said this week he expects to receive a legal opinion by the end of the month..

The state ethics commission found that Burns committed seven violations of the state law that governs use of Clean Election Act money. Among them: transferring public campaign money into his personal bank account, using the money for personal expenses and giving false documents to investigators.

Commission Chairman Walter McKee said he found it “mind-boggling” that Burns had turned in false documents.