Nigel Wright says public believing Duffy repaid expenses not 'bad misrepresentation'

NigelWright wrapped up his six days oftestimony today saying he didn't believeallowing Senator Mike Duffy to claimhe had paid back his questionable expenses, when Wright had in fact covered them, amounted to"bad misrepresentation." But the prime minister's former chief of staffalso said it did not meet the higheststandards of transparency and clarity that Canadians deserved.

• LIVE BLOG: Mike Duffy trial, Day 42
• Read the emails filed by defence
• 7 key quotes in the Mike Duffy-Nigel Wright emails
• Ex-PMO lawyer believed Novak knew about Wright's cheque

Duffy's lawyer DonaldBaynehas consistentlyquestioned Wrightabout writing the $90,000 cheque for Duffy'sexpenses, andallowing the senator to state publicly that he himself had paid them back. The cheque was written in 2013, at the time Wright was serving as Stephen Harper's right-hand man.

"You didn't think that was a misrepresentation to Canadians?" Bayne asked Wright.

But Wright repeatedhis previous testimony that he wanted people to understand Duffy had repaid the expenses, andhe didn't attach much significance to who paid them off.Wright hasinsisted that what he thought was most important was to have the expenses repaid.

Bayneagainasked Wright if he didn't think that wasa misrepresentation.

"I don't know if I'd go that far," Wright said."I just didn't think it was a bad misrepresentation."

Later, Bayne referred to a May 2013statement that had been scriptedfor Duffy to say that he himself had paid back the expenses. The statementincluded the line: "Canadians deserve nothing but the highest standards of transparency and clarity."

Bayne asked Wright if he was meeting the high standards of transparency, clarity and integrity by allowing Canadians to believe Duffy had repaid the expenses.

"I don't think it meets the high standards of transparency and clarity," Wright said. "I thought there was integrity to it."

Bayne alsoreferred to anemailsent by Wright in which he said that "the PM knows in broad terms only that I personally assisted Duffy when I was getting him to repay the expenses."

Baynepointed out that Wright had already testified that his only personalinvolvementwas the provision of the $90,000 cheque to repay Duffy's expenses. He asked Wright how else he had personally assisted Duffy other than paying the $90,000.

"What I meant by that, the PM knew that I waspersonallyinvolved in the Duffy matter," Wright said."Speaking with Senator Duffy. Working on the [media] lines."

"'Personallyhere meantpersonallyinvolvedor engaged in the file," Wrightsaid.

BaynesuggestedWright was being inconsistent with his testimony because theonly personal action he took was to write the cheque.

Duffyhas pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related toexpenses he claimed in 2013 as a senator and later repaid with money from Wright.

Wright's testimony Wednesday marked the42ndday of Duffy'sjudge-only trial, which resumed last Wednesday after breaking on June 18. It was the second hiatus of the high-profile trial, which began April 7 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa. This third phase will continue until Aug. 28, and, with more time assuredly needed, break until it would resume again in mid-November.

Cross-examination focuses on emails

Baynehas focused much of his questioning ona series of emails related to the political fallout of Duffy'squestionable expenses.

Baynehas painstakingly gone through emails related to a scheme in 2013 cooked up by the Prime Minister's Officeto have the Canadian public believe that Duffy himself had paid back his expenses. Bayne had argued that Wright forced Duffy to accept the deal.

On redirect,Crown prosecutor Jason Neubauerpushedback on the notion that Duffy had been forced, asking Wright whether the senatorhad been represented by counsel and ifhe felt Duffywas acting of his own free will.

Yes, Wright responded.

"Was he ever threatened?" Neubauer asked.

Wright said: "I certainly never intended to."

Did Wright eversee anindication of mental incapacity?,Neubauer asked.

No, said Wright.

On Thursday, Benjamin Perrin, a former legal adviser to the PMO is expected to testify.Court heard this week that Perrinhad told the RCMPthathe believed Harper's current chief of staff, Ray Novak,waspart of a conference callin March2013. Duringthat call,Wright's plan topersonallyrepay Duffy's questionableexpenses was discussed.

But Perrin's interview withtheRCMP, a transcript ofwhich was read out at theDuffy trial on Tuesday,seems to be at odds with whatWright and the Harper campaign have said about Novak's knowledge regarding the $90,000 cheque.

Wright testified on Tuesday that Novak was not part of the call and thathad "popped in and out."AConservative Party campaignspokesmanhassaidNovakwas on the first part of that conferencecall, but didn't hear discussion of Wright's cheque.

Stephen Harper on the Mike Duffy trial

9 years ago

Duration 2:18

Stephen Harper answers questions from reporters on the Mike Duffy trial at an event in London, Ontario.

The Conservatives maintain Novaklearned about Wright's cheque when it became public knowledge inMay 2013. Harper has been peppered with questions about Novak on the campaign trail.But hehas insistedhe did not know about Wright's actions,and has repeatedly said that the two individuals responsible Duffy and Wright are being held accountable.

On Wednesday, at anevent in London, Ont.,Harper was again asked about the issue, the revelation in courtof Perrin's statement to the RCMP and why Novak was still part of the campaign.

"I am not going to cherry-pick facts that are in dispute," Harper said. "The fact of the matter is I have held those who are responsible accountable."

RAW: Justin Trudeau says PM needs to start telling the truth

9 years ago

Duration 4:12

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau responds to questions on the Duffy trial and on the cynicism being expressed by Canadians.