, 03.15.2019 05:30 PM

Globe: Trudeau, PMO staff hire outside lawyers in case RCMP probes #LavScam

Wow.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and senior officials in his office have retained outside legal counsel in case of an RCMP investigation into allegations of political interference in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin Group.

Mr. Trudeau’s communications director, Cameron Ahmad, told The Globe and Mail on Friday that Treasury Board rules allow for hiring of outside counsel when government officials are either sued, threatened with a suit, charged with an offence or under threat of being named in a legal action.

“As per the Treasury Board Policy on Legal Assistance and Indemnification, counsel has been retained to advise on the matter in question,” Mr. Ahmad said in an e-mail.

Mr. Ahmad would not provide further details or reveal the names of the law firms retained by Mr. Trudeau and staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, in response to a formal request last month for an RCMP investigation from Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer.

A senior government official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, said an outside law firm has been hired to represent Mr. Trudeau, and another law firm will handle staff in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The second law firm will act on behalf of Mr. Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, Quebec adviser Mathieu Bouchard and senior adviser Elder Marques, the official said.

15 Comments

  1. Shane says:

    But nothing illegal was done? Why would they need lawyers? Lol!

    Rex Murphy had a good one in the Post today:

    “There is something in the Liberals’ behaviour touchingly reminiscent of the classic line from Dr. Strangelove: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the War Room.”

    Committee chairman Anthony Housefather: “Witnesses? You can’t call for witnesses here. This is the justice committee.” “

    I think Trudeau should drop the pretense, and just embrace his new stance of entitled authoritarianism fully and openly. You know, really go for it. He’ll need a new campaign song come October though. Perhaps AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap)” ?

  2. Ronald O'Dowd says:

    Can’t be a bad move given the fact that no one in federal politics needs that kind of help more than they do. They could use as much outside help as they can get. But no of that will be capable of reversing their destined fate in October.

    And the fun part is — they get to take all those hapless cowards in cabinet — straight down the tubes with ’em!

  3. Ronald O'Dowd says:

    Meanwhile, Butts gets to foot his own legal bills?

    I guess friendship really does say everything.

  4. Derek Pearce says:

    I’ve been pretty clear for weeks how disgusted I am with phony Justin and the histrionic clerk and all of their staff and the finance minister’s staff, all pretty much trying to obstruct justice while weasily trying to keep their hands clean about it. Until this eve I was convinced Trudeau was done for.

    But then Scheer does stuff that is differently stupid in an immediately more gravely serious way and whoooooosh, the Con lead in metro suburbs across the county vanishes. Amazing.

    https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/after-criticism-scheer-adds-word-muslim-to-statement-on-new-zealand-mosque-attacks-1.4338025#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=Kd0Srhj

    Apart from the fact that Scheer was sleazy and passive-aggressive racist to try to suck up to Max’s base like this, he’s allowed a story about himself to become more important like the amateur he is.

    • Pedant says:

      When I read the left wing reaction to Scheer’s statement I was expecting the worst. Then I actually read it. Sounded reasonable and heartfelt to me. Yes he should’ve mentioned that the worshippers were Muslim, a stupid oversight but hardly fatal. How do you know it was intentional?

      • Fred from BC says:

        “Yes he should’ve mentioned that the worshippers were Muslim, a stupid oversight but hardly fatal. How do you know it was intentional?”

        My thoughts as well. Maybe he was trying (awkwardly) not to be too exploitative of the situation. “He was pandering to racists!” just doesn’t make any sense, since there really aren’t enough of the real hardcore types out there to make that worthwhile in terms of votes (even if you think Scheer himself is a closet racist, which I don’t).

      • Derek Pearce says:

        I cannot roll my eyes enough. If you thought that was unintentional then I’m a koala’s niece.

        • chris says:

          Even if it was intentional……was he less sincere? Maybe his point was…..their are no distinctions in tragedy. You know……NOT playing the politics of division which is the Liberals bread and butter. Just saying’

  5. Max says:

    Just so I’m clear, the RCMP is investigating “serious allegations” of election wrongdoing in Alberta, But not what is on the public record and reported to a federal parliament JUSTICE committee. Got it. Because its 2019.

  6. Sean says:

    Trudeau is reaping what he’s sowed. Unlike his father, who kept a careful eye on everything-each weakened he would look through memos and submissions from cabinet ministers re progress- this clown avoids work, responsibility, like the plague. Like grade ten students, writing a final examination unsupervised where all kinds of mischief occurs, our government may have turned into a rat’s nest of corruption, amorality, special interest, and incompetence.

    We need to purge the LPC of this crud, elect a new leader, and use time in opposition to get it right. And the first step in getting it right, is to elect a new prime minister in waiting- Jody Wilson-Raybould. She would have my support, as well as the bass player for the Hot Nasties.

  7. HarryR says:

    ……… and all on Joe Sixpack’s dime!
    Salt is not a very effective salve for wounds!

  8. Peter S. Milsom says:

    The really bizarre element of this news about Mr. Dressup and company going for lawyers (do we take this as an expression of guilt?) is that VAdm Mark Norman, who was publicly accused as guilty by Mr. Trudeau before he was even charged or enjoyed the courtesy of a trial, has been driven into bankruptsy for a much lesser misdeameanor than those for which Trudeau and company are being found culpable. Why should Mr. Trudeau and company enjoy public funding of their legal fees when he has denied the same consideration to the Admiral, especially when the evidence against the Admiral appears to be on far shakier ground than the evidence against Mr. Trudeau, The Clerk of the Privy Council and the PMO.

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