AUGUSTA — The Maine Ethics Commission voted unanimously Wednesday not to take action against a Republican state lawmaker accused of violating legislative confidentiality restrictions. 

In July, Assistant House Minority Leader Katrina Smith (R-Palermo), wrote a letter to the Ethics Commission questioning whether House Speaker Ryan Fecteau’s new job with the Biddeford Housing Authority created a conflict of interest. 

That letter was shared with two news outlets, which wrote stories about the concerns. 

Fecteau, a Democrat, then called on the Ethics Commission to investigate Smith to see whether she “knowingly violated the confidentiality restrictions for legislative ethics complaints by sharing her July 8 letter with the press,” according to the commission. 

On Wednesday, the commission voted 4-0 to take no further action on the complaint. 

In response, Fecteau said he’s disappointed by the decision, but is hopeful the rules will be clarified. 

“Clarifying the confidentiality requirements will be paramount to ensuring that those who seek to serve in public office are not subject to politically motivated attacks or attempts to, among other things, impact their employment prospects,” he said in a statement. 

Smith said she asked the Ethics Commission for a review, which is a public process. 

“A review does not require confidentiality, and his complaint was a waste of government time and taxpayer resources,” she wrote. “Public officials should welcome transparency.”