Missouri
Dean Plocher delayed ethics investigation he publicly complained dragged on too long • Missouri Independent
Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher and his allies complained for weeks that the ethics investigation into his alleged misconduct was dragging out unnecessarily.
As it turns out, the biggest reason for the delay may have been Dean Plocher himself.
The Republican from Des Peres for three months allegedly refused to speak to an attorney hired by the House to collect evidence for the investigation, only agreeing to testify to the ethics committee in mid-March.
His office three times over the course of March and early April refused to sign off on subpoenas requested by the committee to compel hesitant witnesses to come forward.
While all this was taking place behind the scenes and out of the public view, Plocher was arguing to colleagues and the media that the committee was taking too long. The delays became evidence to his supporters that the investigation was political and illegitimate.
“Not soon enough,” Plocher said, when asked last month about when the committee might finish its work.
On Monday, after a draft report was released documenting the ethics committee’s findings, Plocher told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he was disappointed in how long the committee took to complete its work.
Yet the report in question lays out myriad ways Plocher’s actions in private were allegedly causing the delays he was publicly decrying.
“Never did I imagine the biggest impediment to this process would be the speaker’s office,” Republican state Rep. Hannah Kelly, the chair of the ethics committee who Plocher appointed to the job in 2023, posted on social media Tuesday.
Plocher, who is running for secretary of state, has yet to publicly comment on the contents of the ethics committee’s draft report.
Speaker Dean Plocher accused of ‘absolute obstruction’ in House ethics investigation
The committee began looking into Plocher in October, after an ethics complaint filed by Republican state Rep. Chris Sander of Lone Jack that focused on the speaker’s advocacy for the House to enter into a six-figure software contract with a private company, his firing of a former staffer and his years of false expense reimbursement reports.
The committee retained an outside attorney named Beth Boggs on Dec. 6 to investigate the allegations and provide a written report to the committee.
Boggs attempted to speak to Plocher for months, she wrote in a March 1 letter to the committee. But each of her requests were ignored. Additionally, Boggs wrote that numerous witnesses refused to cooperate out of fear of retaliation from the speaker’s office.
Those roadblocks, Boggs wrote, delayed the committee’s efforts.
“The level of fear expressed by a number of the potential witnesses is a daunting factor in completing this investigation,” Boggs wrote.
Some witnesses who refused to willingly testify to the committee indicated they would comply with a subpoena, the report stated. Yet records included in the report show that on three occasions, Plocher’s general counsel wrote to the committee stating that the speaker’s office would not sign off on those subpoenas.
“The inability to compel witness testimony and the production of documents in a timely fashion caused unnecessary delay and has hindered the committee’s investigation,” the report stated.
The report ultimately concluded the committee lacked direct evidence of ethical misconduct by Plocher, but that his actions “substantially impair public confidence in the General Assembly.” It recommended a formal letter of disapproval for Plocher, that he hire an accounting professional to manage his expense reports moving forward and that he refrain from retaliation against any legislator or House employee who cooperated with the committee.
The report also recommended further review by the House into allegations of threats made against legislative employees during the course of the investigation.
But after Kelly refused to allow the committee to go into closed session to debate the report, which she said was the result of hours of debate last week, four Democrats and two Republicans voted to reject it.
Only Kelly and the committee’s vice chair, Democratic state Rep. Robert Sauls of Independence, voted in support.
“Unfortunately, because of the efforts by the speaker to threaten witnesses, block our investigation and prevent this process from reaching its natural conclusion, there is nothing more that can be done,” Kelly posted on social media Tuesday. “The report speaks for itself, as do the votes of the committee members.”
One member of the committee, Republican state Rep. Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway of Festus, voted “present” on Monday.
The next day, she posted on social media arguing that the report “did not accurately reflect the record of the committee investigation.”
She voted “present” out of respect for Kelly, Buchheit-Courtway wrote, but wanted more debate before a report was released to the public. The committee majority, she argues, should write, debate and adopt a final report before a public release.
“This process has gone on too long,” she wrote, “and needs to come to an end.”
Buchheit-Courtway may get her wish for an end to the investigation.
Kelly adjourned Monday’s hearing immediately after the committee rejected the report. Two other hearings scheduled for this week have been canceled. There is no indication of whether the committee’s work might resume.
The legislative session ends May 17 at 6 p.m.
“It breaks my heart,” Kelly wrote, “to think our institution could be a place where victims will be harassed rather than protected, where whistleblowers will be vilified and where the truth will be something that is locked in the darkness rather than brought into the light of day.”
Missouri’s long-awaited sports betting launch has finally arrived, and DraftKings is kicking things off with one of its most generous new-user deals on the market. To celebrate the state’s debut, DraftKings is offering users the chance to earn $300 in bonus bets after placing a $5 wager. No DraftKings promo code is required.
Arizona is 8-0 and has already beaten Florida, UCLA, UConn and Auburn. As a result, the Wildcats are the No. 1-ranked team in the country. Despite that, they are 1.5-point underdogs when they visit Tuscaloosa to play No. 12 Alabama on Saturday night. Will the Tide hand Arizona its first loss? Or will Alabama be the latest name added to Arizona’s already impressive resume?
DraftKings Missouri promo code at a glance
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| ✅Last verified | Dec. 13, 2025 |
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As of Saturday, December 13, 2025, Bet365 Sportsbook is firmly established in the Show-Me State, continuing a massive expansion for the global betting giant. To maximize its footprint during this pivotal opening month, Bet365 Missouri has extended its most aggressive welcome promotion in Bowl Season: the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE now unlocks a Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets deal for all eligible Missouri residents.
This enhanced bonus stands as a significant departure from Bet365’s typical national approach. In mature markets such as New Jersey and Ohio, the standard entry offer is generally capped at $150. By utilizing the Bet365 bonus code in Missouri today, new registrants secure an extra $215 in bonus value, cementing this $365 guarantee as one of the premier launch incentives in the United States.
Bet365 Bonus Code SYRACUSE: A New National Benchmark
The timing of this rollout is impeccable, aligning perfectly with the most storied rivalry in college football. The Bet365 bonus code framework for Missouri is engineered to supply immediate account liquidity. Unlike deposit matches that demand a high upfront cost, or “safety net” bets that rely on a loss to trigger a refund, the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE ensures the $365 payout happens regardless of whether the qualifying bet wins or loses.
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Today’s Top Missouri Betting Opportunity: Army vs. Navy
The activation of the Bet365 bonus code comes just hours before kickoff for “America’s Game.” Missouri bettors can apply their qualifying $10 wager on this afternoon’s service academy clash to instantly trigger the $365 bonus mechanism.
Army vs. Navy: Saturday College Football Spotlight
- Teams: Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
- Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
- Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
Current Betting Odds
- Total (Over/Under): 38.5
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- Note: Odds are subject to change.
By using the Bet365 bonus code to place a $10 wager on the Midshipmen cover (-6), the Army upset (+210), or the defensive struggle on the Under (38.5), Missouri accounts will be credited with $365 in bonus bets. This provides a significant war chest for the remainder of the December football schedule.
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With the platform fully operational, claiming this elevated launch bonus requires following specific steps during sign-up. The Bet365 bonus code must be applied as follows:
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The arrival of Bet365 in Missouri delivers more than just a new platform; it introduces a market-altering promotional tier. By leveraging the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE during this historic opening month, sports fans guarantee themselves a bonus $215 higher than the national average, ensuring the most profitable start possible to their betting experience in Missouri.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+ only. Must be physically located in MO. T&Cs Apply. In App Only.
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested a 29-year-old woman after seizing over 200 pounds of marijuana in a traffic stop.
ALSO READ: Investigation into Missouri kratom retailers expands, says AG
According to the MSHP, troopers stopped a vehicle for a registration violation and following too closely on EB I-70 in Montgomery County, Mo., on Thursday, December 11. Authorities then searched the vehicle, finding 221 pounds of marijuana.
According to an MSHP report, 29-year-old Briana A. Roberts was taken into custody and held in the Montgomery County Jail for 24 hours. She could be charged with trafficking drugs in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, according to the report.
No further information has been released.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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