Exclusive: Trudeau, PMO staff hired outside lawyers in case RCMP probes SNC-Lavalin affair
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and senior officials in his office have retained outside legal counsel in case of an RCMP investigation into allegations of political interference in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin Group.
The second law firm will act on behalf of Mr. Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, Quebec adviser Mathieu Bouchard and senior adviser Elder Marques, the official said. The Conservative Leader wrote to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki on Feb. 28 to request a criminal investigation into the Liberal government’s efforts to help the Quebec-based engineering and construction giant, which is facing bribery and fraud charges related to allegedly corrupt dealings in Libya.SNC-Lavalin faces one charge of bribery under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act and one charge of fraud under the Criminal Code.
Mr. Scheer sent the letter to the RCMP Commissioner the day after Ms. Wilson-Raybould told the House of Commons justice committee that she faced “consistent and sustained” political pressure from the Prime Minister and top officials in his office to override the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Kathleen Roussel, to proceed with a criminal trial of the company.
She cited the testimony of Ms. Wilson-Raybould, about a conversation she had with Mr. Wernick on Dec. 19, in which he told her the Prime Minister had no intention of relenting on the matter, as evidence of an attempt to obstruct justice.
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