The Missouri House Ethics Committee on Monday voted to dismiss a complaint of ethical misconduct against House Speaker Dean Plocher despite an attempt by its chair to point out the top Republican’s alleged obstruction of the investigation.

The committee, in a tense and chaotic meeting, voted 7 to 2 to reject the complaint with Ethics Chair Hannah Kelly, a Mountain Grove Republican, and Ethics Vice Chair Robert Sauls, an Independence Democrat, voting “no.” Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat, voted “present.”

Monday’s vote officially ended the committee’s months-long investigation into a slew of scandals connected to Plocher, including revelations he received nearly $4,000 in government reimbursements for travel expenses already paid by his campaign.

Plocher, a St. Louis-area Republican running for secretary of state, was quick to claim victory during a press conference in the state Capitol shortly after the vote.

“A bipartisan majority of the committee found that there was absolutely no merit in the accusations in the complaint filed against me,” said Plocher, who was flanked by his wife and kids. “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.”

Plocher claimed to be a victim of a “bureaucratic revolt” and compared himself to former President Donald Trump among other Republican officials.

But while Plocher touted Monday’s vote as a full exoneration, Ethics Chair Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Mountain Grove Republican, appeared to be distressed by the outcome.

“There are some days in this building where words do not suffice. I was asked by (Plocher) to chair this committee with no clue of what I would have to deal with,” she said. “And today, as chair of this committee, I have to remember that the people who sent me here expect transparency, they expect honesty and they expect accountability.”

Kelly began Monday’s meeting with a motion to dismiss the complaint that would have stated the investigation could not be completed as “a direct result of obstruction” and “intimidation of witnesses” by Plocher.

Kelly followed up that motion by attempting to read aloud an email she had received from an unknown person that appeared to outline efforts by Plocher to retaliate against House employees.

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