Ethics committee dismisses complaint against Missouri House speaker

An ethics committee comprised of lawmakers has dismissed a complaint against Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher.

The vote was 7-2 in favor of dismissing allegations that Plocher misused taxpayer funds, pushed a contract with a company that has ties to his employer and retaliated against staffers who made complaints.

“We now know that it’s the bureaucrats in the House that attempted a coup by trying to target the speaker’s office, hoping to displace and overthrow duly elected officials for control of the legislature and giving great influence to the lobbyists and special interest," Plocher said.

Plocher recently was accused of obstructing the ethics investigation by pressuring witnesses and refusing to cooperate.

Read more from The Associated Press.