Police Scotland has ended its investigation into the alleged leak of a Scottish Government investigation into sexual harassment claims against Alex Salmond.
The force said “no further action” would be taken.
Police began the enquiries in 2021 into “potentially unlawful” leaks about the former first minister.
The Daily Record newspaper broke the news of the allegations from two female civil servants on August 23, 2018.
Salmond previously said he would make a complaint to Police Scotland regarding the leak.
The Alba Party leader was cleared by the High Court in Edinburgh of 13 charges.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Our enquiries are now complete and no further action is being taken.
“Should further information become available this will be considered.”
Reacting on social media to the news, Salmond said there was “no doubt a criminal leak took place” and said the question remains about who it was.
“This latest Crown Office blunder underlines that they are an organisation unfit for purpose and any root and branch reform of criminal justice in Scotland should not start with an attack on juries but in putting a proper distance between the Government and the prosecutorial service,” he added.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Law Officers.
“All Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference.
“We do not provide details of investigations.
“However, we confirm when police submit a standard prosecution report (SPR) for the purposes of consideration of a prosecution.
“No SPR was submitted for this police investigation.”
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