The political dramas that unfolded in courtrooms last year may be just the warm-up for a new year that will see former Conservative senator Mike Duffy on trial. In 2014, Michael Sona was convicted of making illegal robocalls ... former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro was found guilty of overspending ... The court has blocked off eight weeks to deal with the case, which is bound to be covered extensively given Duffys status as a household name and the bombshell allegations hes levelled against the Conservative Party. Hell also be the first to go to trial out of a group of four senators whose expenses have been questioned (one of the senators, Pamela Wallin, hasnt been charged in the expenses scandal). ... The court has set aside 12 days that month to deal with the proceeding that allows a judge to test the allegations and evidence before going to a full trial. Brazeau will be the second senator to go to trial among the group who are accused of claiming expenses to which they werent entitled. ... Manon Perreault, whos now suspended from the NDP ... The former New Democrat MP was kicked out of caucus after being charged with falsely accusing someone of theft and misleading police. ... Mac Harb The retired Liberal-appointed senator will be in court Aug. 10 to Sept. 4 to defend against charges of fraud and breach of trust. ... Brazeau, Duffy and Harb are accused of claiming a housing allowance meant to allow senators who live outside the capital to cover their Ottawa-area living expenses. ... Carson was once a senior adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and wrote a book about the Conservative movement, including his time in the PMO. ... Carson helped start a school of energy at the University of Calgary and worked with a water purification company. He now faces charges of influence peddling related to his work with both organizations. ... Sona was sentenced to nine months in jail, but has been released on bail pending an appeal. ... Crown has already filed its motion to appeal the sentence too. Theres no court date yet for the appeal hearing ... Del Mastros sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27, although he said he would move to reopen the defence. He changed lawyers following that announcement ... Del Mastros cousin also faces charges stemming from the 2008 federal campaign. The Crown alleges David Del Mastro, with the assistance of an employee, funnelled an additional $22,000 in donations to Dean Del Mastros campaign. ... Its been more than a year since court documents confirmed the RCMP were investigating former Conservative senator Pamela Wallin for fraud and breach of trust, and ... none of the allegations have been tested in court. ... RCMP confirmed that its probe into Nigel Wright, Harpers former chief of staff, had ended without charges. Its likely the Mounties would do the same if they ended the investigation into Wallin. cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-duffy-dean-del-mastro-and-other-political-figures-go-to-court-in-2015-1.2874878?cmp=fbtl
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 22:07:04 +0000
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