PITTSBURGH — A former staffer for Republican state Sen. Jane Orie said this morning that he and Orie’s chief of staff were asked to send out a letter refuting reports by an intern that campaign work was being done on state time.

Joshua Dott says he and the former chief of staff, Jamie Pavlot, both thought sending the letter to the University of Pittsburgh intern’s professors and the school chancellor was a bad idea because they knew the letter was false.

But Dott says he and Pavlot did as the senator ordered.

Orie’s on trial for allegedly using her staff for illegal campaign work. The investigation began in October 2009 when the intern complained to the district attorney.

Orie has maintained her innocence.