ALBANY – Both houses of the Legislature have enlisted high-profile outside counsel to represent the chambers in an ethics investigation, a possible indication of an impending challenge to the Moreland Commission's probe, observers say.

Assembly Democrats retained Marc Kasowitz of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman and Senate Republicans have brought in former Southern District U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia, now a partner at Kirkland & Ellis. Kasowitz and Garcia have capped their fee at $50,000.