Lawsuit alleging Missouri House Speaker retaliated against whistleblowers dismissed by judge

A Cole County judge on Wednesday dismissed a whistleblower’s lawsuit against the Missouri House of Representatives and its Republican leader who alleged harassment and intimidation of a top staffer.

There was a lawsuit filed in May by House Chief Clerk Dana Miller accusing outgoing House Speaker Dean Plocher and his former chief of staff, Rod Jetton, of retaliating against her and trying to fire her. The lawsuit was based on allegations of misconduct by Plocher and an investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which was ultimately dismissed amid allegations that Plocher and Jetton engaged in witness tampering and intimidation.

In two one-page rulings issued Wednesday by Cole County Assistant District Judge Brian Stumpe, the lawsuit against Plocher and Chambers was dismissed. Miller’s attorneys dismissed Jetton from the lawsuit earlier this year.

“The Circuit Court of Cole County dismissed the baseless allegations of impropriety against me and the House of Representatives,” Plocher said in a statement. “Although I have always believed that the truth will prevail, this journey has been difficult. I am deeply grateful to my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout this process.”

Miller could immediately be reached for comment.

Plocher, who finished fourth in August Republican primary for secretary of state and is leaving office next month due to term limits, was embroiled in controversy last year when he was accused of “unethical and possibly illegal conduct” as part of his months-long push to get the House of Representatives to award an $800,000 contract to a private company to manage the statutory information

A month later, The Independent reported that over the past five years, Plocher had repeatedly illegally demanded from the legislature to reimburse taxpayers for airfare, hotel and other transportation expenses already paid for by his campaign.

The investigator’s report detailed how some potential witnesses allegedly refused to speak out of fear that Plocher would use his power as speaker to retaliate against them, while others failed to appear because Plocher decided who the committee could compel to testify. And Plocher refused to cooperate with a lawyer hired to gather evidence for the committee.

The Speaker and Chief Clerk of the House are the two House officers named in the Missouri Constitution. Both are elected by majority vote as the House is reorganized after the election.

Miller worked in state government for 31 years, including 23 years as a member of the House of Representatives. In 2018, she was elected Chief Clerk and held this position under the leadership of four Speakers. Miller is not running for re-election as chief clerk.

In court materials seeking releasePlocher maintained that he was not personally Miller’s supervisor and that the dispute was a political, not a personnel, issue.

Miller is retiring early next year. The new Speaker of the House, Republican John Patterson of Lee’s Summit, has announced that she will be replaced by longtime House Speaker Joe Engler if he is confirmed by a vote of the full House.

This story was originally published Missouri Independentwhich is part of the Newsroom of the States.