Navy officers criticize Officer X whistleblower in internal emails
Navy Lt. Patrick White has testified that Royal Canadian Navy leaders have covered up sexual misconduct allegations against the unnamed officer.
Author of the article

avid Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Apr 07, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 5 minute read
Capt. Richard Jean, deputy commander of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. Photo by Department of National Defence
Capt. Richard Jean, deputy commander of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. Photo by Department of National Defence
A sailor who testified before parliament about an alleged serial sexual misconduct offender was working with the Conservatives to embarrass the government, a senior Canadian navy officer has claimed in internal emails.
But documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen show that suggestion by Capt. Richard Jean, deputy commander of the naval reserves, is false.
Navy Lt. Patrick White approached the clerk of the Standing Committee on National Defence to request he be allowed to testify about the reprisals he has faced inside the naval reserves, according to documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen. There was no mention of Conservative MPs or requests to work with them.
Military records obtained by the Ottawa Citizen also show navy leaders were concerned about what White would tell parliamentarians regarding incidents in the naval reserves.
White, assigned to an Ottawa-based naval reserve unit, told the committee during his April 17, 2024 appearance about an officer who he described as a “serial sexual misconduct offender.” The lieutenant also testified Royal Canadian Navy leaders have covered up the actions of the man who is referred to in some internal military records only as “Officer X.”
In addition, White warned members of Parliament that there was a danger of further risk since Officer X had a civilian job in which he has direct influence over children.
The Ottawa Citizen broke the story about Officer X in March 2024, citing internal Department of National Defence reports and police investigations. The military documents noted that Officer X has faced multiple allegations of harassment, sexual misconduct as well as police investigations since 2006. In at least one case, military police determined there was enough evidence to lay charges regarding an alleged sexual assault by Officer X but the Royal Canadian Navy leadership declined to do so.
Navy leaders learned the day before the commons committee that White was going to appear, setting off speculation and concern about what the lieutenant might say, according to military records.
Commodore Pat Montgomery, head of the naval reserve, wrote Rear Admiral Steven Waddell the day of the April 17 committee appearance that White had been given an hour to speak to MPs. “I don’t have any advance information as to questions/answers, but I would anticipate that it will not be a positive story presented,” Montgomery wrote.
Navy Capt. Richard Jean, the deputy commander of the naval reserves, emailed Montgomery several hours before White’s appearance. “No doubt he sought a Conservative MP that was happy to have something to potentially embarrass the GoC (Government of Canada),” Jean claimed.
Montgomery replied to Jean: “I am surprised that he was able to obtain an hour with the (committee). I would not have thought that he was an expert witness on transparency within DND and CAF, so I am equally interested to hear what he has to say.”
The committee was conducting a study of transparency in the Canadian Forces as well as the types of protection that existed for military whistleblowers.
The exchanges between the two senior officers are contained in military records released through the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and obtained by the Ottawa Citizen.
Defence Minister Bill Blair did not respond to a request for comment.
Pat Montgomery navy
Commodore Pat Montgomery, head of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. Photo by Department of National Defence.
Jean was asked for comment as well as copies of the records supporting his claim that White had sought out a Conservative MP to embarrass the Canadian government. He did not respond.
Montgomery did not respond to a request for comment.
White, who is assigned to HMCS Carleton, the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve Division in Ottawa, responded to a request for comment with an email statement. “The priority must remain ensuring Officer X is brought to justice for his sexual misconduct and the civilian children under his direction and control are safe,” White noted. “I defer to the Royal Canadian Navy as to the appropriateness of comments from the senior commanders of the Naval Reserve concerning one of their officers and our elected Parliamentarians.”
In a previous statement to the Ottawa Citizen about the Officer X case, navy commander Vice Admiral Angus Topshee noted that misconduct of any kind is unacceptable amongst the ranks. He stated that as the commander his role is to ensure a culture in the navy in which every sailor feels safe, welcomed and valued.
Asked by the Ottawa Citizen about how the comments from Jean and Montgomery would make White feel welcomed and valued, Topshee repeated his earlier statement that the navy takes misconduct very seriously. “Discussion of ongoing files by leadership and Royal Canadian Navy staff is a necessary part of the process to address these situations when they occur,” he added in an email.
Topshee did not take issue with Jean and Montgomery’s comments about White. But he added that all military members are held to the highest standard of conduct. Topshee stated he “continues to expect all leaders, sailors, and civilian employees within the Royal Canadian Navy to always carry out their duties with the highest degree of professionalism and will reiterate and enforce this expectation.”
White testified to the defence committee that military police had concluded there was enough evidence to charge Officer X with sexual assault, but instead the navy’s leadership decided he needed mentorship rather than punishment. Military documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen confirmed that.
White outlined to MPs on the committee the details about the alleged navy coverup to protect Officer X. Those naval reservists who tried to come forward with evidence against Officer X faced repercussions from naval reserve leaders who warned them they could face charges of mutiny and treason, White testified. “These threats of high-order criminal charges were made in order to silence and intimidate them,” he added during his appearance.
White also told the committee that Topshee was also approached in 2023 by a civilian who outlined in detail the concerns about Officer X. Topshee did not take any action, according to the civilian. Documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen confirmed that testimony.
After White testified to the House of Commons committee, he received emailed threats from anonymous sources.
A team of civilian investigators brought in by DND to look at the matter in 2022 heard that no action had been taken against Officer X even though sailors repeatedly informed the navy about the allegations. “All of the individuals brought forth allegations that ranged from the ‘lower end of the spectrum’ to the ‘high end’ of the sexual misconduct ‘spectrum,’ ” the report from the National Defence investigators pointed out. “This information was ‘bundled up’ with 14 years of multiple allegations and MP Investigations against Officer X that had resulted in ‘zero action.’ ”
The team interviewed one navy commander who informed them that “there were several MP (military police) investigations, dating as far back as to 2006, in which Officer X was named.”
Navy Lt. Patrick White testified that navy leaders have covered up sexual misconduct allegations against the unnamed officer.
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