[Rerun]

RCMP probe into Wright-Duffy affair reveals 5 new threads


1. 'No evidence' Harper knew of Wright-Duffy deal

The evidence assembled by the RCMP alleges that Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not know about the details of the $90,000 cheque Wright gave to Duffy, only that "the prime minister was informed by his staff that they were working on a plan to have Senator Duffy repay expenses."

2. PMO 'influenced' Duffy's Senate audit report

The RCMP has expanded its investigation to include the Prime Minister's Office, the court documents filed by the RCMP on Nov. 15 show.
While the prime minister has repeatedly told the Commons that it is Duffy who is under investigation by the RCMP and not his own office, the court documents allege that half a dozen senior members of Harper's staff and Conservatives in the Senate were involved in the matter of Duffy's ineligible expenses.
Cpl. Horton, in the sworn affidavit, alleges that the senior ranks of the Prime Minister's Office directed Conservative senators to alter the final Senate audit report into Duffy's ineligible expenses. The RCMP also alleges the PMO played a role in the deal struck between Wright and Duffy to repay the $90,000.

3. RCMP emails involve PMO, Conservative senators

While the RCMP has asked Duffy to turn over hundreds of emails and the PMO has said it is co-operating with the Mounties, Cpl. Horton said they have narrowed 260,000 emails down to 2,600 emails they say contain "possible evidentiary value."
The RCMP notes PMO legal counsel said the prime minister had given "clear orders" for the PMO to provide "complete co-operation" with the investigation and offer any assistance or documentation requested by the RCMP.

4. Senator Irving Gerstein's Deloitte contact

One of the 2,600 emails the RCMP say contain "possible evidentiary value" is an email from Patrick Rogers pertaining to Deloitte's mandate from the Senate.
On March 21, Gerstein contacted Rogers and said that Deloitte would not be stopping the audit, and that their mandate was to determine residency, according to an interview the RCMP conducted with Wright on July 18.
In a subsequent interview with the RCMP on Sept. 16, Gerstein said he does know Michael Runia, one of the partners at Deloitte and did ask him if there was anything he could share regarding the status of their audit.

5. Senator LeBreton's staffer raised red flag

It appears there was some opposition to the changes the PMO wanted to have made to the final Senate audit report into Duffy's expenses, according to Cpl. Horton.
The opposition came primarily from Chris Montgomery, an employee of the Privy Council Office who worked for Senator LeBreton on issues management for the government in the Senate, and also from the Senate Clerk.
Montgomery "insisted the Senators were compromising themselves by changing the report to meet demands by the PMO," said Cpl. Horton.
In an interview with the RCMP on Sept. 11, Montgomery said "he advised the PMO, specifically Rogers and Woodcock, that they should not be involved" in Duffy's Senate audit and reports. Montgomery told the RCMP they ignored him.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp...eads-1.2433672


Certainly doesn't look good for the PMO and certain Conservative Senators