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(Update)
A shocking development to tell you about in the ongoing senate expense scandal. Today, the RCMP laid a long list of criminal charges against suspended Senator Mike Duffy. The Mounties are throwing the book at Duffy. He’s facing charges that include multiple counts of fraud and breach of trust, and one charge of bribery.
Gilles Michaud, a senior commander of the RCMP made the announcement: “This morning the RCMP has laid a total of 31 charges against Mr. Duffy”.
The police investigation started after reports that Duffy had charged the government away-from-home expenses for his house in Ottawa as Senator from Prince Edward Island even though he’d lived in Ottawa for years.
Gilles Michaud: “As for expense claims unrelated to senate business.”
Police say the investigation went on to cover alleged frauds totalling $200 thousand, including consulting contracts and claims for personal matters.
There’s also the infamous $90-thousand cheque to pay back Senate expenses given to Duffy by Prime Minister Harper’s former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright.
Gilles Michaud: “Mr. Duffy has been charged with one count each of bribery of a judicial officer, fraud on the government and breach of trust.”
The government issued a statement saying the conduct described in the charges is disgraceful and rule breakers must be punished.
But the opposition accuses the Harper government of a culture of corruption and says the charges reflect on the Prime Minister.
Nycole Turmel, NDP MP: “Why did Stephen Harper appoint a senator from PEI who obviously didn’t live there? Why did his Chief of Staff write a cheque for $90 thousand to a Senator and tell him to lie about it?”
With an election coming up next year, McMaster University political science professor Peter Graefe says the ongoing Duffy court case could undermine the Prime Minister’s position: “Maybe it’s a question of did they know things, did they participate in things that were problematic and should Stephen Harper take responsibility for having promoted Mike Duffy to the Senate having used him also as a Conservative fundraiser.”
Duffy’s lawyer has issued a statement saying the evidence will show he’s innocent of any criminal wrongdoing, and in particular that Duffy didn’t want to participate in Nigel Wright’s cheque payment. Duffy has said he’s going to be calling some high-level Ottawa officials into court in his defence, and that could include the Prime Minister.
