HOUSTON (AP) - Houston's highest-paid city council staffer has been fired after officials determined he displayed a pattern of "untruthfulness" and continued to collect his salary even though he was out of state for unrelated training.

The Houston Chronicle reports that Councilman Steve Le on Tuesday fired his chief of staff, Daniel Albert, after suspending him without pay last month.

An investigation determined Albert violated city policies by continuing to collect his $119,600 salary while attending a months-long military law training program earlier this year.

Among City Inspector General Robin Curtis' findings is that Albert engaged in a "scam" in which he directed a subordinate to swipe his employee badge at the City Hall Annex to falsely show he was in the building.

Albert's attorney says the city "egregiously violated" a federal act that protects service members' employment rights.

Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com

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