Missouri

Dean Plocher delayed ethics investigation he publicly complained dragged on too long • Missouri Independent

Published

7 months ago

April 17, 2024

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.”

Source link

Click to comment

Missouri

Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri to host all-day holiday food drive

Published

2 mins ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri to host all-day holiday food drive

State

Zip Code

Country

Source link

Missouri

South Dakota State ensures share of MVFC title smashing FBS-bound Missouri State

Published

9 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

South Dakota State ensures share of MVFC title smashing FBS-bound Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Mark Gronowski threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns and Amar Johnson ran for two touchdowns and South Dakota State overwhelmed Missouri State 45-9 on Saturday and claimed a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference regular-season title.

With the win and North Dakota State’s loss to South Dakota, the Bison, Coyotes and Jackrabbits (10-2, 7-1) all secure a three-way tie for the Missouri Valley Football Conference regular-season title.

Missouri State (8-4, 6-2) entered averaging 37 points per game.

It was Missouri State’s final game as a Missouri Valley Football Conference member before joining Conference USA and the FBS ranks in 2025. Missouri State kicks off next season on Aug. 30 when it travels to Southern Cal.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.

Source link

Missouri

Mississippi State vs Missouri live score updates, highlights, how to watch Week 13 game

Published

17 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Mississippi State vs Missouri live score updates, highlights, how to watch Week 13 game

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football has one last chance to win a home SEC game today.

The Bulldogs (2-8, 0-6 SEC) are hosting Missouri (7-3, 3-3) at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday (3:15 p.m., SEC Network). Their only two wins have been in nonconference play.

The Tigers have been in and out of the national polls but are unranked in the US LBM Coaches Poll this week after losing at South Carolina.

Follow along here for live score updates.

Watch Mississippi State football vs Missouri live on ESPN+

Mississippi State vs Missouri score updates

Davon Booth scampered for a 43-yard rushing touchdown, putting him over 100 yards for the second game in a row and keeping MSU within striking distance with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter.

The Tigers controlled possession for 8 minutes, 46 seconds before kicking a field goal.

Kyle Ferrie chipped in a 26-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining in the half after an MSU touchdown was erased because of a holding penalty.

The Tigers have scored three touchdowns in three straight drives, this time Marcus Carroll’s second touchdown of the first half.

Brady Cook connected with Luther Burden III for a 28-yard touchdown catch with 9:58 remaining in the second quarter.

After the Tigers committed 30 yards worth of penalties on one play, Michael Van Buren Jr. found Jordan Mosely for an 11-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left in the first quarter.

Marcus Carroll scored a 2-yard touchdown with 2:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Michael Van Buren Jr. fumbled and Mizzou returned it 70 yards for a touchdown with 6:33 to play in the first quarter.

Davon Booth broke a 33-yard run before Kyle Ferrie connected on a 38-yard field goal with 11:43 remaining in the first quarter.

Mississippi State vs Mizzou time today

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Location: Davis Wade Stadium

What channel is Mississippi State vs Missouri game on today?

TV channel: SEC Network
Streaming: ESPN+ (subscribe today)
Radio: MSU Sports Network and Sirius XM channel 374

Mississippi State versus Missouri will be broadcast on SEC Network. Taylor Zarzour will be on the call with analyst Matt Stinchcomb and sideline reporter Alyssa Lang. Streaming is available on ESPN+.

Mississippi State vs Mizzou history

Series record: Tied 2-2
Mississippi State’s last win: 2020 (51-32)
Missouri’s last win: 1984 (47-30)

Mississippi State vs Missouri predictions

Missouri 37, Mississippi State 20: The Bulldogs are allowing 41 points per game in SEC play, and it’s difficult to see Missouri not having the same level of success. Expect big days from Luther Burden III and/or Theo Wease Jr., plus running back Nate Noel as MSU loses another game by double digits.

Mississippi State vs Mizzou betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:

Spread: Missouri -9
Over/under: 57.5
Moneyline: Missouri -330/Mississippi State +285

Mississippi State vs Missouri injury updates

Mississippi State reported no new injuries this week, but will be without wide receiver Mario Craver due to a suspension. Missouri starting quarterback Brady Cook was probable but removed from the report on Friday.

Mississippi State vs Mizzou weather update

According to AccuWeather, it will be 61 degrees at kickoff with 6 mph winds and a 0% chance of rain.

Mississippi State football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31: vs. Eastern Kentucky (56-7, W)

Sept. 7: at Arizona State (30-23, L)

Sept. 14: vs. Toledo (41-17, L)

Sept. 21: vs. Florida (45-28, L)

Sept. 28: at Texas (35-13, L)

Oct. 12: at Georgia (41-31, L)

Oct. 19: vs. Texas A&M (34-24, L)

Oct. 26: vs. Arkansas (58-25, L)

Nov. 2: vs. UMass (45-20, W)

Nov. 9: at Tennessee (33-14, L)

Nov. 23: vs. Missouri

Nov. 29: at Ole Miss

Buy Mississippi State football tickets this season with StubHub

Missouri football 2024 schedule

Aug. 29: vs. Murray State (51-0, W)

Sept. 7: vs. Buffalo (38-0, W)

Sept. 14: vs. Boston College (27-21, W)

Sept. 21: vs. Vanderbilt (30-27, W)

Oct. 5: at Texas A&M (41-10, L)

Oct. 12: at UMass (45-3, W)

Oct. 19: vs. Auburn (21-17, W)

Oct. 26: at Alabama (34-0, L)

Nov. 9: vs. Oklahoma (30-23, W)

Nov. 16: at South Carolina (34-30, L)

Nov. 23: at Mississippi State

Nov. 30: vs. Arkansas

Mississippi State football news

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Source link