Mike Duffy testifies that Stephen Harper insisted he represent P.E.I.
Mike Duffy, testifying for the first time at his criminal trial, said former prime minister Stephen Harper ignored his concerns about being appointed a senator for P.E.I. and insisted that if he were to join the Senate, he must represent that province.
Tuesday marked Duffy's first chance to speak at length publicly since before the trial began on April 7. Since then he has stayed largely silent, ignoring the throngs of reporters as he has entered and exited the Ottawa courthouse.
Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses he claimed as a senator and later repaid in March 2013 with $90,000 from Nigel Wright, who at the time was chief of staff for Harper.
Duffy will now have the opportunity to justify, legally, his series of controversial expense claims, which the Crown contends weren't related to Senate or government business and shouldn't have been billed to the taxpayer.
Mike Duffy testifies that Stephen Harper insisted he represent P.E.I. - Politics - CBC News
Mike Duffy, testifying for the first time at his criminal trial, said former prime minister Stephen Harper ignored his concerns about being appointed a senator for P.E.I. and insisted that if he were to join the Senate, he must represent that province.
Tuesday marked Duffy's first chance to speak at length publicly since before the trial began on April 7. Since then he has stayed largely silent, ignoring the throngs of reporters as he has entered and exited the Ottawa courthouse.
Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses he claimed as a senator and later repaid in March 2013 with $90,000 from Nigel Wright, who at the time was chief of staff for Harper.
Duffy will now have the opportunity to justify, legally, his series of controversial expense claims, which the Crown contends weren't related to Senate or government business and shouldn't have been billed to the taxpayer.
Mike Duffy testifies that Stephen Harper insisted he represent P.E.I. - Politics - CBC News