Canada PoliticsOpposition grill Stephen Harper over explosive allegations in new court documents about Senate expense scandal
Did Stephen Harper know about the $90,000 cheque his former chief of staff gifted to Senator Mike Duffy?
That was the hot potato question in raucous Question Period on Wedensday following the release of a court affidavit — filed by the RCMP — about the Wright/Duffy investigation.
In the 80-page dossier, the RCMP allege Nigel Wright committed bribery, fraud and breach of trust when he gave Duffy the money so that he could repay inappropriate expense claims.
We now know that RCMP Cpl. Greg Horton believes that Wright "did, without the consent in writing of the head of the branch of government, pay a reward or confer an advantage or benefit on Mike Duffy."
As explained by the Globe and Mail, the documents paint a clearer picture of the 'negotiations' between Wright and Duffy.
After being told by Mr. Harper to repay the money, the RCMP officer said that Mr. Duffy made a series of demands: that he be withdrawn from an ongoing audit into his expenses, that he be reimbursed (including his legal fees) and that all members of the Conservative caucus speak on the matter based on “agreed upon media lines.”
The head of the Conservative Party fund, Senator Irving Gerstein, contemplated paying back the amount and the legal fees when the cost was believed to be $32,000. However, when the amount rose to $90,000, Mr. Gerstein only agreed to pay back Mr. Duffy’s legal fees.
“Nigel Wright decided that he would personally cover the cost of reimbursing Senator Duffy,” Cpl. Horton said.
The document also states that Wright told investigators that the prime minister did not know about the cheque.
But, the Mounties do allege that others in the PMO — including senior lawyer Benjamin Perrin — were involved in the negotiations and that the PMO influenced Conservative Senators Marjory LeBreton, David Tkachuk, and Carolyn Stewart Olsen to whitewash an audit report into Duffy's expenses.
In a statement released to media, on Wednesday, Wright said he's done nothing wrong.
"My intention was always to secure repayment of funds owed to taxpayers," he said.
"I acted within the scope of my duties and remain confident that my actions were lawful. I have no further comment at this time."
None of the allegations included in the document have been proven in a court of law.
[ Related: Nigel Wright broke the law by cutting Duffy $90,000 cheque, police allege ]
The Conservatives downplayed the new revelations in Question Period.
"What the RCMP has confirmed in its documents today is that two individuals — Mr. Duffy and Mr. Wright — are under investigation for their actions in this matter. They have also confirmed that this prime minister has been telling exactly the truth," Prime Minister Harper said.
Despite their staunch defence, the documents raise some serious suspicions about the prime minister's involvement.
Some of the language in the actual language used in the affidavit leads to rampant speculation about what Harper knew.
Interestingly, Cpl. Greg Horton notes that Wright made the $90,000 payment to Duffy "without the consent in writing" of the prime minister.
Why — some are asking — would the Mounties include the words "in writing"?
@nspector4 of the 10,000 things a week a PM and CoS discuss, how often would you say the PM puts his direction to CoS in writing?
— Rob Silver (@RobSilver) November 20, 2013
@nspector4 it's just such a strange line. If the RCMP wanted to say "the PM didnt consent", why not say exactly that instead of "in writing" — Rob Silver (@RobSilver) November 20, 2013
Spector was former prime minister Brian Mulroney's chief of staff.
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There are also other excerpts from police documents that are raising suspicions about what Harper knew:
Point three appears to be a reference to a promise to pay Mike Duffy's legal fees and was part of Duffy's demands.
In QP, Harper said he was just told that Duffy would repay the money.
And there's this excerpt as well:
On May 14, [PMO director of communications] Andrew MacDougall sent an email to Nigel Wright and others advising that he received inquiries from a journalist about Nigel Wright co-signing a loan from Senator Duffy to repay the money.
Carl Vallee PMO press secretary responded:
"Would the PM know the actual answer to the question? Just in case he asks us?"
Nigel Wright responded:
"The PM knows, in broad terms only, that I personally assisted Duffy when I was getting him to agree to repay the expenses. On the specific matter, I did not co-sign a loan."
Certainly, the RCMP say that they have no evidence that Harper knew of the $90,000 cheque.
But while evidence is needed in a court of law, it's not needed in the court of public opinion.
And right now, that's the bigger problem for the prime minister.
(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)
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