[Rerun]

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2...ike_duffy.html

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Harper stood in the Commons repeatedly Wednesday, took most questions directed to him, and flatly denied Duffy's explosive allegation that he’d helped orchestrate a “monstrous” political scheme to repay Duffy’s expenses and whitewash an audit once they became political dynamite.

Neither Duffy nor his lawyer had produced direct proof of that. But Harper denied the damning allegation anyway.

He went on the offence to scorn Duffy’s claim of being a “victim” of a political vendetta and donned the mantle of guardian of taxpayers’ money.

“Mr. Duffy now says he is a victim because I told him he should repay his expenses. You’re darn right I told him,” Harper said

In moving to shield Novak, Wright’s successor as chief of staff, Harper admitted for the first time that Wright “did seek permission or consultation with others” over the Duffy repayment — an admission that the circle of people who knew of the plan to repay Duffy’s expenses was much broader than previously acknowledged.


Harper denied it was as broad as 13 people, reported by CTV, and noted Wright has not said Novak was among them, nor was he: “One of those people was not me because I obviously would never have approved such a scheme.”

“Any assertion that I was in any way consulted or had any knowledge of Mr. Wright’s payment to Mr. Duffy is categorically false. Had I known about it, I would not have permitted it. As soon as I knew about it, on May 15, I revealed it to the public.

I will continue to believe Stephen Harper's statements until irrefutable proof is presented that they are false.