Sudbury byelection scandal court hearings to resume in January

An ongoing court case involving alleged bribery in the lead-up to a 2015 byelection in Sudbury, Ont., is slated to resume in January2017.

Prominent Sudbury businessman Gerry Lougheed and former top Liberal party official Pat Sorbara are both charged with trying to bribe former Sudbury candidate Andrew Olivier not to run for the Liberals in the byelection, making way for former federal New Democrat MP Glenn Thibeault to defect to the provincial party.

• Gerry Lougheed, Pat Sorbara charged in Sudbury byelection scandal

• Crown alleges Thibeault 'sought certain benefits' to defect to Ontario Liberals

• Liberal Pat Sorbara charged with bribing Glenn Thibeault to defect from NDP

Provincial police also charged Sorbarafor allegedly offeringan inducement to Thibeault to run for the provincial Liberals.

Even though Thibeault has notbeen charged himself, opposition members in the Ontario Legislature are calling for his resignation.

In a year-end interview with CBC Sudbury, Thibeault admitted it has not been easy.

"I've never been investigated, I've never been charged," Thibeault said.

"I have no way to defend myself and I can't even speak to you about it because it's before the courts."

• Sudbury byelection timeline

Thibeault also made headlines when he got emotional while speaking to reporters about the impact this case has had on his family. Some opposition members accused the now-energy minister of "crocodile tears."

• Opposition jumps on Glenn Thibeault's emotional response to bribery scandal

"If they think that's a political opportunity, well then, I think that's to their detriment," Thibeaultsaid.

"Everyone says, 'well you're a politician you should be thick skinned,' and I'm always saying, 'well, should we?'" he continued.

"Should we not go after the policy? I've always said it's fair game if you don't like a policy, tear it apart, but I'm finding it's becoming easy politics now to go after the person."

Lougheed's lawyer has said his client has maintained that: "He didn't do anything that would attract a culpable finding." Sorbara has said she believes the charges against her will not succeed.

The case is slated to be back in court January 18.