Angry MSPs have again voted for the Scottish Government to hand over their legal advice in the Alex Salmond case.
The opposition parties at Holyrood backed the move after SNP ministers failed to comply with the first demand.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie accused the Government during the debate of being "world leaders at dissembling, obstruction and secrecy".
Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole Hamilton also suggested Deputy First Minister John Swinney could face a confidence motion as a result of the row.
A Holyrood committee is examining how in 2018 the SNP Government botched the investigation of sexual misconduct allegations by two female officials against Salmond.
The former First Minister pursued a judicial review and it was agreed the 2018 internal probe had been unlawful.
The debacle cost the taxpayer over £500,000 and ended the long-standing friendship between Nicola Sturgeon and Salmond, whose allies believe he was targeted by the Government he used to lead.
A long-running controversy is the Government’s refusal to hand over the legal advice in relation to Salmond’s judicial review.
MSPs on the committee want to know when the Government was advised it was on course to lose the court battle.
Following a debate three weeks ago at Holyrood, opposition parties united to vote for the Government to release the material.
However, the advice has not been handed over and MSPs staged another debate today on the row.
In its amendment for the debate, the Government acknowledged the "complex matter" is being "actively considered" by Ministers, but MSPs voted again for disclosure.
Baillie said: "The Scottish Government like to think of themselves as world leaders, and indeed they are. World leaders at dissembling, obstruction and secrecy."
She added that the government had "utter contempt" for the parliament.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, who led the debate, said: “This debate dealt a crushing blow to John Swinney’s reputation. His credibility has been shattered by defending the indefensible.
“The SNP’s chief fixer rolled out one mortifying excuse after another to try and explain away the SNP’s shameful drive to avoid scrutiny at all costs.
“It’s clearer than ever that the SNP have something damning to hide. They won’t release these key legal documents that would finally shed light on how complainers were failed and why more than £500,000 of taxpayers’ money was lost.
“The Parliament made clear today that there is nowhere to run or hide for the SNP. The Scottish Conservatives and every opposition party will continue to demand the release of these vital documents.”
Cole Hamilton said: "The optics of this are terrible for the SNP and everything about it reeks of cover up."
He added: "Should the deputy first minister not deliver to us what we seek in short order, then he may well face another kind of motion in the coming days, one which tests the confidence of members and those responsible for blocking the will of this parliament."
