Mike Duffy Scandal

Mike Duffy, a Canadian Conservative Party appointed senator, defrauded the government of about $90,000 in invalid expensive claims. The Conservative party wanted to cover up the scandal of their star senator (a former media personality) by having him repay the expenses. The catch was, he had already spent the money. So Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Chief of staff, gave Duffy $90,000 out of his personal account. Unfortunately for Mr. Wright and Mr. Duffy, giving large amounts of money to senators is considered a bribe.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper pretends to know nothing of the $90,000 cheque. I find that highly implausible, why?

• Mr. Harper has a reputation for micromanaging not only the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office), but also the whole government. Nothing happens without his approval.
• This a highly dangerous political gamble that could destroy the Conservative Party. Mr. Wright was a prudent, team player. There is no way he would pull such a stunt without permission. Harper has surrounded himself with spineless yes-men.
• Mr. Harper is quoted in an email as saying he was good to go on the plan to handle the Duffy scandal. Harper claims he meant only that he was OK with Duffy paying back his own expenses. That does not make sense. There was no need for Harper to OK that. If he approved, it had to be something which at least in theory he might have vetoed.
• When talking about himself in this scandal, the Prime Minister refers to himself in the third person. This is trick commonly used by liars to try to distance themselves from their misdeeds.
• Mr. Wright is not being charged, citing lack of evidence, even though the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) have the illegal cheque. Somebody pulled some strings to get him off the hook. Pretty well the only person who could do that is Mr. Harper.
• Harper is claiming the same I-know-nothing-about-what-happens-in-my-office as Nixon did in Watergate. It is simply not believable in such control freaks.

For me the most interesting question of this scandal is what did Harper do/promise/threaten to induce Mr. Wright to part with $90,000 to bail out Duffy.

~ Roedy (born:1948-02-04 age:68)