, 03.16.2019 09:51 AM

#LavScam legal: what it means now that PMO has lawyered up

The Globe and Mail has reported that Justin Trudeau and senior PMO staff have now retained independent legal counsel in #LavScam. I’ve helped organizations through legal/comms crises many times. 

I can tell you this is what this latest revelation means:

• their ability to communicate openly about the file comes to an abrupt end

• they now can’t take notes, send or receive email, etc. without disclosing them to the police, Ethics Commissioner, et al. 

• they can’t delete past records without attracting more legal peril

• their lawyers are telling them, over and over, that they should not discuss the case with anyone, including their bosses

• their lawyers are reviewing, in advance, everything they hope to say about #LavScam – which necessarily slows down their responses in what is a fast-moving scandal 

• the Opposition and the media are going to be watching the legal bills like hawks – and publicizing every penny (which the relevant law firms don’t ever like, and which sometimes leads to withdrawal)

• they are getting their legal bills paid by the taxpayer – but there’s usually a dollar limit, and the representation won’t cover wrongdoing done outside their government roles (ie., LPC)

• their legal bills will get very big very fast – which will inevitably create a whole new layer of scandal 

• they may need to hire non-legal representation – comms counsel, for instance – and that inevitably means yet more costs which leads to yet more scandal 

• they may need to start paying for additional legal representation out of their own pockets – which inevitably leads to them going home and their spouse saying: “We didn’t sign on for this. This is bankrupting us. You need to quit.”

And so on, and so on. 

None of this would have happened if any of them had paid heed to the law – for instance, using “jobs” as an excuse to enter into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement is expressly prohibited in bribery cases (as this is) and Article Five of the OECD Anti-Bribery Working Group Convention (which Canada has signed). 

They didn’t talk to any lawyers at the start. Because of that, they’re now going to be talking to lawyers all the time. 

To, you know, keep themselves out of jail. 

33 Comments

  1. Devon Ell says:

    Thank you for the work you do! I sincerely appreciate your clear, direct and honest approach. Is there any truth to this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRnv0WPtQaU

  2. Luke McEachern says:

    $50 says nobody goes to jail over this.

  3. AHH!!! says:

    HAHAHAHAHA!(Response of many Canadians).

  4. the salamander says:

    .. b b but .. ‘no laws were broken!’
    .. so why all the lawyers @ 500 $ an hour ?
    Or am I out of date and its 750 to a thou per hr now ?

  5. Stewart Orange says:

    What kind of timeline are we talking? Weeks, months, years? It’s very disturbing JW-R followed the rule of law and acted on the DPP’s recommendation not to offer a DPA to SNC-Lavalin while Trudeau pleaded it was all a misunderstanding. Butts, in front of a Liberal dominated Justice Committee, said she lied, then wouldn’t allow her to rebut his claims. The court of public opinion believes her way more than those two buffoons. They should be footing the bill to defend themselves, not the taxpayers! It’s so easy when it’s OPM (other peoples money).

  6. Rick says:

    Excellent article! I doubt any of them will go to jail but it probably will push Trudeau out! Jobs!? He’s such a dummy! They (cops) need to look into his bank records. I’m sure a company like SNC has bribed more than Gaddafi and the Middle Easterners!

  7. No one finds this strange? https://www.straight.com/news/771496/will-snc-lavalin-and-power-corporation-benefit-trudeau-endorsement-asian-infrastructure Not to mention the creation of the CIB? This detailed inquiry was dismissed. http://blog.friendsofscience.org/2017/11/24/infrastructure-bank-questions-of-potential-conflict-of-interest/ How did the creation and Canada’s support of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank affect NAFTA w USA? https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/john-browne-chinese-bank-challenges-u-s-supremacy And… were they planning a large carbon trading network b/t France, Canada and China via these bodies? Caisse, SNC, Power, Bombardier, McCain all deeply embedded in France https://blog.friendsofscience.org/2018/04/29/new-france-the-carbon-conquest/ Caisse and Al Gore’s GIM just made a new long-term fund…but what of this? https://gellerreport.com/2019/03/how-could-i-miss-it-harry-reid-john-kerry-and-al-gore-named-in-arevas-28-billion-corruption-case.html/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook Seems a lot of questions to be answered and either SNC or Caisse are in the midst of them.

  8. anna cain says:

    does that mean he will stand in question period over and over again and say they cnnnot answer questions as they have lawyered up..with our tax money…and so to hell what canadians think…this subject is getting out of hand….let jody speak….and let canadians know all the time everyday what trudeau about…liar ask him how much these lawyers are going to cost taxpayers…answe will be we strive to get it right…and canadians can believe they did nothing wrong…

  9. Walter says:

    “they may need to start paying for additional legal representation out of their own pockets – which inevitably leads to them” :
    coming up with a new illegal scheme (future scandal) to pay for the first one.

    After all, those who Liberals deal with have deep pockets and will pay for favours.

  10. Olga McKenzie says:

    They were talking to a lawyer…they just didn’t listen to her.

    • Robbie Armstrong says:

      Well said!

    • the real Sean says:

      well done:)

    • Ronald O'Dowd says:

      Olga,

      That’s nothing. Just wait until JWR runs for leader. Rather than properly embrace her, they will move heaven and earth to prevent her from becoming leader.

      It’s that mindset that has come to infect most of them and it’s precisely what’s killing the party.

      (Yes, I still am just a tad bitter.)

      • Warren says:

        Sure. Apologies – sometimes we block lots of loons at once: red X’s, Shamrocks, yellow jackets, Nazis, etc., and innocent folks get caught in it.

    • Nick says:

      Interesting; their contempt for the rule of law has now cornered them to seek refuge in it. What irony! Will their arrogance prevent them from listening to it again?

  11. Joseph says:

    If someone is “lawyering up” as you say its because the police have come calling or they have been issued a summons to appear.

  12. Gord Tulk says:

    “None of this would have happened if any of them had paid heed to the law …”

    And Warren you know that simply wasn’t an option.

  13. Mike Jeffries says:

    So much chaos I feel the need to hide under my bed! But what of Conrad Black’s musing? It equally is chaos!

    • Gord Tulk says:

      Re: Conrad Black

      Consider the source – a senior member of the laurentian elite – silver spoon and all. That he deflects from the issue at hand is no surprise.

      A couple points on the allegations he makes:

      He asserts Peter MacKay had “… earned considerable stature as either lawyers or legislators.” I Loled that.

      And that she is what he says she is I have little quarrel. JT and the LPC have gone done the virtue-signalling bunnyhole and these are kind of negative results you get.

      BUT he is lying through his teeth when he says SNC-lavalin and the decades of corruption are the side show. He KNOWS that’s a pile of dung. Many of his friends are in the firing line here and he’s trying to deflect in a most disgusting manner.

  14. Gord Tulk says:

    “…a Deferred Prosecution Agreement is expressly prohibited in bribery cases (as this is) and Article Five of the OECD Anti-Bribery Working Group Convention (which Canada has signed). ”

    Didn’t know that Warren. Certainly the media and the oppo parties aren’t saying that. Where did you hear/read about it?

    • chris says:

      That has been very frustrating for me. There has been little play in the press that the DPA statutes were copied from the Americans and others…..and has specific guidelines as to why an outfit like SNC would NOT qualify for a DPA.
      On another note….rumours of irregularities in the financing of the pipeline and BMO?? Follow the money

  15. Andy von Busse says:

    Warren, can you unblock me on Twitter? I have not idea why I am on your list. I know why Levant blocked me but you? Much appreciated it, hate having to see your stuff just through screenshots someone took. (@fl_snowbirds with my real name shown)

    Thanks!

  16. Gord Tulk says:

    Not surprising:

    https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5059410

    SNC lavalin is gonna be saved by the Quebec government in part by using equalization money.

    The rot runs to the very core of this country.

  17. Allen Burrell says:

    Perhaps going to jail is the new way of doing government that Trudeau liberals promised.

  18. Dallas Christiansen says:

    Wouldn’t it be great if they went to jail.
    I doubt it…

  19. PWC says:

    The problem is JWR also has an agenda. Thank goodness she came forward however. The corruption we have seen so far is likely just the tip of the iceberg.

  20. Nick says:

    This may sound trite but negative energy only attracts more negative energy leading to a vortex of self destruction. The seeds for this are often sewn into the fabric of ones past and are difficult to uproot unless one chooses the path of truth, integrity and personal honesty.

  21. Doris says:

    The RCMP are going to have a hard time covering this up especially Deputy Commissioner Michaud. The RCMP charged SNC Lavelin for bribery in the first place and since bribery does not allow for a DPA..deferred prosecution agreement under the Anti Bribery Convention and since the economy can’t be used either for DPA the PMO office with the PM have been caught redhanded implicating themselves in obstruction of Justice on a number of points. Then factor in undue pressure as alleged by JWR and the criminal charges are very relevant and unless the RCMP set the example that corruption at any level especially at the highest level is not acceptable to Canadians by bringing these charges they are a disgrace to law enforcement and even undermine their own investigation and eventual charges against SNC Lavalin. Hypocrisy at its finest on display for the whole world if nothing is done That Wernick guy needs added charges for perjury and inciting violence with his words about assassinations. A true disgrace to Canadians as well.

  22. Albert says:

    This liberal party with Justin Trudeau rammed through the change to the criminal code allowing DPA’s in order to benefit a company that was not eligible for a DPA and this government further muddied the waters by trying to obstruct justice by pressuring then firing the Justice Minister who would not flinch on the Rule of Law and allow the DPA which had already been denied by the Public Prosecution Office who followed the Rile of Law as well. Can’t wiggle out of obstruction of justice charges no matter how you spin it.

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