WATCH: As the leaders campaign this week there’s another story stealing the spotlight – the Duffy-Wright affair. Just this weekend the Prime Minister was once again asked if he knew about a $90,000 cheque that his former chief of staff cut for Senator Mike Duffy. As Laura Stone reports, there will be more tough questions asked in court this week.
OTTAWA – Whether he likes it or not, Stephen Harper’s bid for re-election is about to clash with the courtroom drama of the Mike Duffy trial.
The Duffy case resumes this week after a seven-week hiatus with testimony expected from Harper’s former chief of staff in the Prime Minister’s Office — Nigel Wright.
Already, Harper has denied any advance knowledge of a $90,000 cheque Wright signed to cover Duffy’s denied housing expense claims.
RCMP documents filed in court showed Wright had sent emails to a lawyer and PMO staffers, telling them that a plan devised to have Duffy pay back his expenses had been given the green light by the prime minister.
But yesterday, Harper told an Ottawa rally that he never told Wright he was, quote, “good to go” with the $90,000 payment from Wright.
Duffy has pleaded not guilty to the 31 charges he faces, including fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
Earlier this month, Harper started an 11-week campaign to win a fourth consecutive mandate.
Election day is October 19th.
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