WASHINGTON (AP) — The Securities and Exchange Commission is paying $580,000 to settle a lawsuit by a former assistant SEC inspector general who accused the agency of firing him in retaliation for bringing possible misconduct to light.

The SEC reached the settlement last month with David Weber, who sued the agency in November. Weber’s attorney, Cary Hansel, announced the settlement Monday. Weber was the assistant inspector general for investigations, one of those responsible for probing allegations of misconduct by SEC officials and employees. He is an attorney and a certified fraud examiner.