The Department of Defence confirmed it has already investigated allegations that information may have been obstructed during pre-trial hearings for the former vice-admiral.

He had said he wanted to return to duty, but a statement released Wednesday says Norman has chosen to retire instead.

The statements Marie Henein critized came earlier this month in the form of several Twitter posts and a public fact-sheet in which the department said it wanted to "clarify" Henein's requests for internal records.

Norman's legal team raised questions in court about the independence of federal prosecutors.

Canada's top military officer is expected to take the stand later this month in a pre-trial hearing for Vice-Admiral Mark Norman.

Lawyers for Norman, who was charged with breach of trust for allegedly leaking government secrets, said in a court filing that the government had "cherry-picked" what information to disclose.