AUGUSTA — Two members of the LePage administration are declining to appear before a legislative panel that’s reviewing allegations Gov. Paul LePage threatened to withhold funding for a private school that tried to hire a political opponent.

Cynthia Montgomery, the governor’s chief legal counsel, said she and another aide, Aaron Chadbourne, must “respectfully decline” an invitation to appear before Government Oversight Committee because of a pending lawsuit.

Committee members criticized the decision.

Republican Sen. Roger Katz, committee co-chairman, expressed disappointment, saying “transparency ought to be everyone’s goal.” And Democratic Sen. Bill Diamond said their cooperation “is important to get the complete truth.”

A fact-finding report concluded that the LePage administration withheld money after learning that Good Will-Hinkley hired House Speaker Mark Eves. The school’s board later rescinded Eves’ job offer.