Reg Bowers hires Jerome Kennedy in election fraud case

Reg Bowers, the former campaign manager for Peter Penashue, has hired lawyer and former cabinet minister Jerome Kennedy to defend him against election fraud charges.

Bowers was Penashue's official agent and handled paperwork for the federal campaign in 2011, when Penashue staged an upset win for the Conservatives over Liberal incumbent Todd Russell.

Bowers was charged earlier this month with three counts under the Canada Elections Act, and is accused of accepting illegal contributions during the campaign.

Kennedy is a well-known St. John's defence lawyer who is also a former cabinet minister and MHA with the Progressive Conservatives.

Bowers, who currently sits as a town councillor in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, is due in court June 9.