Nicola Sturgeon, the former Scottish first minister, has been cleared in a police investigation concerning the finances of the Scottish National Party (SNP).

This announcement comes as her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, faces charges of embezzlement and appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 20, 2025, where he made no plea.

Murrell, who resigned as SNP chief executive in March 2023 amid controversy over party membership numbers, must resolve his charges within 18 months due to new legal timelines addressing pandemic-related backlogs.

The charges against Murrell stem from Police Scotland's ongoing investigation, dubbed Operation Branchform, which has scrutinized the SNP's financial dealings since its initiation in July 2021.

This investigation has focused on approximately £660,000 in donations raised for Scottish independence campaigning, which may have been misused.

Police conducted searches at Sturgeon's home and SNP headquarters, leading to significant media coverage and political implications for the party.

The Crown Office provided an unusually detailed press release regarding Murrell's court appearance, reflecting heightened public and media interest in the case.

Sturgeon described her experience with the police investigation as 'traumatic,' but expressed relief at its conclusion, asserting she has done nothing wrong.

Sturgeon and Murrell decided to separate in early 2025, following her unexpected resignation as first minister in February 2023.

The couple, married in 2010, announced their divorce in January 2025, with Sturgeon stating they had been separated for some time.

Some senior SNP figures believe the investigation contributed to the party's losses in the last UK general election, reflecting the political fallout from this inquiry.

The arrest of a political leader like Sturgeon, particularly a former first minister, has shocked the public, drawing parallels to the arrest of former SNP leader Alex Salmond in 2019.