Missouri’s GOP House Speaker says Monday’s House Ethics Committee vote to dismiss an ethics complaint against him vindicates him.
The Associated Press (AP) reports Monday’s committee vote was 7-2, with one Democrat voting present. Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) tells Capitol reporters that he’s innocent. The Speaker had faced several allegations, including a software contract and also retaliating against staff members who raised complaints.
Speaker Plocher’s attorney, David Steelman, denied those allegations during a live mid-April interview on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” Counselor Steelman told listeners that the Speaker couldn’t give a software contract and that it would have to go to the state Office of Administration (OA) for bids and a request for proposal. Steelman also told listeners that the idea that a whistleblower was fired is “absurdly laughable”, citing an affidavit from a witness.
House Ethics Committee chair Hannah Kelly (R-Mountain Grove) has issued a statement, saying her sole motive has been to uncover the truth. She says there have been relentless attacks from the Speaker’s supporters besmirching her name. Chairwoman Kelly’s statement also reads, quote: “This is simply a betrayal of trust, by the Speaker, his staff and the lobbyists fighting so hard to keep him in power for their political gain, and I am not a member of the good ol’ boys club.”