Probe of Recorder Expanded : Investigation: Allegations have surfaced that Lee Branch and a documents manager physically abused two office employees.

SANTA ANA —  The investigation of Orange County Recorder Lee Branch has expanded to include allegations that Branch and documents manager Nancy L. Smith physically abused two employees in the office, sources close to the investigation confirmed.

Investigators from the county’s Affirmative Action Office have been questioning employees about whether Branch last year shoved an employee who had been seen talking with a union representative. Branch supposedly shoved the worker into computers and office equipment in view of customers and other employees.

Investigators are also reviewing an incident earlier this year in which Smith allegedly grabbed hold of a female employee’s shoulders and strongly scolded her for a mistake, said county sources who asked to remain anonymous.

Initially centering on sexual harassment claims and related morale problems, the investigation now seems to be reaching more broadly into other aspects of employee relations in the county recorder’s office of 100 workers, who handle the filing of public documents, mostly real estate transactions.

Branch, who is on a 30-day leave of absence pending the outcome of the probe, said Thursday that he never shoved an employee. As for the alleged altercation involving Smith, he said, he had been made aware of the charge earlier and had referred the matter to his deputy for review.

Smith, a documents manager in the office who is on leave, could not be reached for comment.

The additional complaints come as investigators are questioning county workers about allegations that Branch’s personal relationship with Smith has caused serious morale and operational problems in the office. Also under investigation is whether Branch made lewd remarks to a female employee in the department.

Branch has acknowledged his relationship with Smith, a longtime department employee, but denied any wrongdoing and contends the allegations against him are politically motivated.

County officials, who were recently made aware of the expanded investigation, said Thursday that the recorder’s office has become a serious concern to the Board of Supervisors.

“This office has been dysfunctional for a long time,” said one official, who had been briefed on the allegations but declined to be named.

Branch declined to elaborate on reports of the altercation between Smith and another employee about a month ago. He said it is “not appropriate to discuss grievance procedures” but did say that he referred the matter to Assistant Recorder Ella M. Murphy for action.

“I consider all of those kinds of incidents as serious and of deep concern,” Branch said. “As far as I’m told, it’s been taken care of or it’s in the process of being taken care of. It was the assistant recorder’s responsibility.”

Smith reportedly was given a reprimand, an action she is now challenging through the county’s personnel department, but personnel officials could not be reached for comment.

As for the latest allegation against him, Branch said Thursday that it was the “first time I have ever heard of my shoving anybody. I don’t condone that type of behavior.”

But sources said investigators have asked questions about whether the recorder shoved a worker after he saw the employee in the hallway with a union representative. Branch reportedly had left the office briefly but then came back and confronted the worker, allegedly shoving the man without explaining why, sources said.

The Branch investigation began more than a week ago after the county Office of Affirmative Action, which handles discrimination and sexual harassment concerns, received complaints about the recorder’s behavior.

Last Friday, Branch, who is divorced, began the leave of absence. Smith, who has worked in the office for 21 years, is on a two-week leave.

Officials said it would take at least another week to complete the investigation.

Branch, who has vowed to remain in office and seek reelection next year, said the allegations are politically motivated, but he did not know who might be instigating them. Speculation has already begun about possible successors to Branch, fueled largely by Supervisor Roger R. Stanton, who said Wednesday that he is endorsing County Clerk Gary L. Granville, who is expected to challenge Branch for the office next year.

Granville said he is interested in the recorder job but has played no role in the Branch investigation.

As more of the county’s top officials became aware of the additional allegations, some on Thursday questioned Branch’s explanation that his troubles were due to political dirty tricks.

Politics “is not the case,” said one official. “There is a long history of all sorts of stuff going on over there. I’ve been told that Branch has not even talked to some of his top managers for as long as two years. This is symptomatic of some very, very serious problems.”