Nigel Wright grilled at Duffy trial

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Mike Duffy’s lawyer tore into Nigel Wright during cross-examination today, suggesting the Prime Minister’s former Chief of Staff created a “deliberately deceptive scenario” for Canadians.

Donald Bayne peppered Wright with questions all morning, maintaining that a “scheme” was orchestrated inside the Prime Minister’s Office to push Duffy to repay his expenses.

Duffy’s lawyer said his client believed the expenses were justified.

At a campaign stop Thursday at a farm outside of Regina, Harper maintained he was also concerned about the use of the public purse.

“As I’ve said, when this came to my attention, my concern in this entire matter was that Mr. Duffy was making use of taxpayers’ dollars in a way that could not be justified,” said Harper. “He was, whether it was within the rules or not, he was making expense claims that did not represent real expenses and I have said repeatedly that I could not justify paying expense claims for expenses that were not actually incurred.”

Wright said he was trying to quietly do a “good deed” when he gave Duffy $90,000, then privately notified the prime minister’s director of issues management.