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It emerged today that justice minister Jonathan Djanogly hired a private investigator to snoop on his aides and colleagues due to "malicious rumours" in the press.
When questioned Djanogly said that he may have "overreacted" and that he was "extremely upset".
He said in a statement: "Following a series of malicious allegations made against me in newspapers last year, I felt I had to act to find out who was spreading these untrue stories.
"I would never have contemplated condoning anything unlawful or dishonest in the investigations, and the investigators have assured me that their inquiries were carried out in an entirely lawful manner.
"I am sorry if some people judge that I made a mistake. With hindsight I can see that I may have overreacted, but I was being subjected to very malicious, anonymous attacks on my family."
The report on his colleagues compiled by private investigation firm Morris Chase International was created using legal means, the company said.
Members of his team were questioned on their support for Djanogly and their personal views of him in an attempt to uncover the source of the "malicious, anonymous attacks on my family", in the MP’s words.
This incident, uncovered by The Daily Telegraph occurred when Djanogly was shadow solicitor general, but casts doubts over the MPs current position as justice minister.
However, in a statement a spokesman for Number 10 said the prime minister had "full confidence" in his minister, and that "The PM will judge him on his performance as a minister”.
Djanogly also commented: "I am sorry if some people judge that I made a mistake".
He was eager to add "I paid for the cost of the investigation myself and did not claim it back on parliamentary expenses."
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