Mike Duffy to see portion of salary clawed back from Senate in latest dispute

The Senate isgoing to start clawing back a portion ofMike Duffy's salary after the P.E.I. senator refused to repay nearly$17,000 in disputed expense claims before Saturday's deadline.

Though Duffy was cleared last April of all31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to his expenses, the Senate has since demanded he pay back thousands in expensesafter new information came to light during his trial.

"The deadline to repay or indicate that he was opting for arbitration was Saturday. And, as you know, Senator Duffy indicated he would do neither," said JacquiDelaney, aspokeswoman for Senator Leo Housakos, chairman of the upper chamber's internal economy committee.

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"As per the independent dispute resolution process, the Senate now must offset Senator Duffy's salary,"Delaney said in anemailto CBC News on Monday.

While Duffy was cleared of all criminal charges, Senate officials have taken issue with anumber of expenses raised during his trial.

The Senate has deemed ineligible certain expenses Duffy filedbetween theperiodofMarch 5, 2009, and Sept. 13, 2012, for pictures, makeup anda personal trainer.

DonaldBayne,Duffy's lawyer,said his clientwould not pay the money backand that there was no need for arbitration because a judgeissued a resounding not-guiltyverdict.

But the Senate is standing firm and will proceed withautomatically deducting $16,955 from Duffy's paycheque.

Delaney could not say on what date the Senate would start toclaw backa portion of Duffy's salary.

Baynewas not immediatelyavailablefor comment.