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(Updated)

Premier Kathleen Wynne is on the defensive over accusations government computers were wiped after she entered the premier’s office. Police documents have revealed a criminal investigation into former premier Dalton McGuinty’s chief of staff, suggesting he brought in an outside expert to delete documents related to the gas plant scandal.

This is a criminal breach of trust investigation. It’s the latest and most serious bombshell in the 1.1 billion dollar cancellation of gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga. It’s a result of the OPP probe that began after reports that emails were deleted as part of a cover up. A police search warrant that was unveiled Thursday suggests that very thing may have happened.

Immediately after allegations against former premier Dalton McGuinty’s chief of staff were announced at Queen’s Park, Kathleen Wynne was under attack.

Lisa MacLeod is the PC energy critic: “It’s very clear that Kathleen Wynne had to have known about this.”

An OPP search warrant accuses David Livingston of giving an outside tech expert access to 24 computers in the premier’s office. It’s alleged he asked Peter Faist, boyfriend of Liberal staffer Laura Miller , to wipe emails and documents related to the gas plant scandal.

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath: “I’m shocked. I think as everyone else is at how far this has gone — now of course under the watch of this premier as well.”

Premier Wynne: “I have never directed that former chief of staff, he has never worked in my office, he has never worked in my government.

Dates in the police report have raised questions about whether the alleged breach took place under Wynne’s tenure.

OPP say the computers were tampered with between February 5th and March 20th of last year. Wynne took office February 11th.

Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak: “This is tied directly to Kathleen Wynne. It happened under her watch. She oversaw and possibly ordered the destruction of these documents as part of a coverup.”

But Wynne says she has never seen Faist, and no outsider came to the office after she was sworn in: “After that date, no one came into my office to take any action to do with destroying information, nor did I direct anyone to do that, nor did I have any knowledge of anyone doing that.”

Whether or not Wynne was aware, Livingston could face up to five years in prison if the allegations prove true. Even as allegations, they’ve solidified the gas plant cancellations as one of the biggest scandals in Ontario’s history. Charges haven’t been laid against Livingston and the OPP investigation is ongoing. Wynne and the Liberals say they’re cooperating with police.

Here is the full statement by Wynne outside her office this afternoon:

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Here is the full news conference by PC leader Tim Hudak and energy critic Lisa MacLeod:

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