The First Minister said he will not be supporting the 27-day suspension and a salary ban which was recommended by a parliament committee.
John Swinney has said the investigation into Michael Matheson's £11,000 data roaming scandal has been "prejudiced".
Holyrood's Corporate Body judged Matheson had breached the code of conduct, but it was the Standards committee who voted for the sanction.The Scottish Tories have said they will bring forward a vote to force Matheson to resign next week. Matheson quit as Health Secretary this year over the massive bill he racked up on an iPad during a family holiday to Morocco.
Swinney said: "Annie Wells said that Michael Matheson's, and I quote, 'desperate efforts to justify his outrageous expenses claim have been riddled with lies, cover-ups and the need for us all to suspend our disbelief."
John Swinney Scottish National Party Scottish Government
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