Whitewash.

There’s no other word for what happened at the state ethics commission hearing Thursday.

Rep. Tom Saviello, I-Wilton, had asked the commission to investigate his behavior as a member of the Natural Resources Committee and to determine if his job as environmental manager for International Paper in Jay created a conflict of interest with his legislative work.

But when it came time to actually consider the evidence, Saviello asked that the scope of the inquiry be limited to the conflict of interest and the ethics commission agreed.

Then, as further insult to a public gravely concerned about the conduct of elected officials, the commission went behind closed doors to make a decision.

If ever a case threatened to undermine the public’s confidence in government and its ability to police itself, this is it.

Saviello has been accused of using his position on the Natural Resource Committee to bully professionals working in the state Department of Environmental Protection, using his power to sway enforcement and hamper the agency’s oversight of his employer. There is at least some evidence that he discussed a deal with former DEP Commissioner Dawn Gallagher that swapped enforcement of a hazardous waste violation at IP for his support on legislation affecting the Androscoggin River. The violation was never issued, but it doesn’t appear Saviello changed his position on the river, where he has steadfastly opposed tougher pollution standards.

Saviello requested the investigation to clear his name. And while we’re certain he believes he’s been cleared, the most serious questions about his conduct remain unanswered.

In January, the ethics commission took a much harder line. Julia St. James of Hartford, Sarah Trundy of Minot, Daniel Rogers of Auburn and Jessica Larlee of Minot were issued record fines for breaking the state’s Clean Election Rules. Their hearings were held in public, broadly exposing the four to ridicule and embarrassment.

The four deserved the stiff punishment they received. But the two cases show a damning double standard. Political naifs, outsiders, interlopers who are caught breaking the rules receive no mercy. But for one of the state’s power elites, entrenched in the state’s political structure, a legislative insider, the rules are different, more friendly and deferential.

We may never know what really happened between Gallagher and Saviello that led to the disappearance of the hazardous waste violations. So far, everyone’s sticking to their contradictory stories.

The ethics commission, with a chance to uncover the truth and restore faith in the government, decided instead to do nothing.

Now it’s up to Speaker of the House John Richardson to decide whether Saviello should return to the Natural Resources Committee. He should not be reseated until a thorough investigation answers the questions the ethics commission has dodged.

In January, Richardson and Senate President Beth Edmonds said they were forming a task force to review the state’s conflict-of-interest laws and other issues of ethical conduct in the State House.

With Thursday’s events, that group’s job becomes more urgent because the message sent loud and clear is that almost anything goes.