When Pulitzer prize-winning novelist Harper Lee recently announced plans to publish the prequel to To Kill a Mockingbird that she wrote in the mid-1950s, rumors began to spread that she has been subjected to “elder abuse” and may not be competent enough to make decisions over publication. Lee’s agent is now speaking up to dispute these claims, calling the rumors “shameful” and promising fans that the beloved writer is in “full possession of her mental faculties”.

Following the announcement of the upcoming release of Lee’s Go Set A Watchman, the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Securities Commission began interviewing the author and acquaintances to determine whether or not Lee is competent to make decisions over publication of the Scout-narrated novel she wrote before writing her award-winning To Kill a Mockingbird. The two agencies reportedly began their investigation after receiving anonymous claims that Harper Lee was being subjected to elder abuse.

Andrew Nurnberg, who has been Lee’s foreign-rights agent for two years, said in a statement released Friday that he was was “surprised” to hear these claims, since Lee “could not be better cared for in the residential home where she lives.”

“To suggest otherwise, anonymously and without any supportive evidence, is as shameful as it is sad,” said Nurnberg. “We should rather celebrate the fortuitous discovery of this long-lost novel and share the author’s joy at its imminent appearance.”

The Securities Commission revealed on Thursday night that the investigation has officially been closed, as they found that Lee “was aware that her book was going to be published,” and made it quite clear that “she wanted it published.”

The Alabama Securities Commission’s director Joseph Borg told the Guardian on Friday that his office had closed its file on the case, but neglected to say if the entire investigation had been closed.

“I cannot say that they [HRD] have closed it but I do not see any action going on,” said Borg, who sent a small team to interview at her assisted living facility in Monroeville. “Our initial review has to do with whether or not Miss Lee is cogent, she knew what was going on and wanted her book published. She replied in the affirmative and said she was not making any complaint to us, so we do not need to inquire further.

Lee reportedly asked the investigators direct questions, and proved capable of giving “very strong answers” to their questions. She proved that she is profoundly deaf, but still manages to communicate well by writing on a chalk board.

Go Set A Watchman is scheduled for release on Jul. 14, 2015.