The Missouri House Ethics Committee is set to continue its investigation into Republican Speaker of the House Dean Plocher of Des Peres, with a series of closed-door meetings planned for next week.
While the committee members have remained tight-lipped about the specifics of their investigation, various sources have confirmed that Plocher is the subject of their inquiry, including statements from Plocher’s attorney and members of House GOP leadership.
Ethics Committee (Credits: Missouri Independent)
One committee member, Richard Brown, a Democrat from Kansas City, recused himself from participating in the investigation due to his candidacy for lieutenant governor, which could potentially create a conflict of interest.
The investigation into Plocher was sparked by reports alleging inappropriate behavior towards House staffers, including threats to one staffer’s job, as Plocher pursued a state contract with a private software firm.
Additionally, Plocher admitted to receiving state reimbursements for his campaign’s spending, which he attributed to a clerical error that was later corrected.
Ethics Committee Member (Credits: Natural Resource Governance Institute)
The meeting on Tuesday night will mark the fifth in a month, indicating that the committee may be accelerating its work on the Plocher matter.
However, Chairwoman Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Republican from Mountain Grove, has consistently declined to provide any comments or answer questions regarding the committee’s ongoing investigation, citing the strict confidentiality rules governing their proceedings.
The Ethics Committee’s meeting is scheduled for Tuesday after the House adjourns for the day. It will continue the probe into allegations surrounding Speaker Dean Plocher.
