"The RCMP has laid a total of 31 charges against Mr. Duffy," Assistant Commissioner Gilles Michaud said. He said Duffy is scheduled to appear in an Ottawa court on Sept. 16.
Duffy's lawyer issued a statement late Wednesday to say the RCMP charges were coming against the suspended Conservative senator.
Michaud said the RCMP pursued four avenues of investigation in the Duffy case:
- Senate expenses related to claims on his secondary residence in Ottawa.
- Senate expenses related to claims unrelated to Senate business.
- Senate expenses related to consulting contracts.
- The $90,000 payment from the prime minister's former chief of staff, Nigel Wright.
These investigations yielded 31 charges. They included:
- One count each of fraud and breach of trust related to his residency expenses.
- Nine counts of fraud and nine counts of breach of trust for expenses unrelated to Senate business.
- Four counts of fraud and four counts of breach of trust related to the awarding of consulting contracts.
- One count each of bribery, frauds on the government and breach of trust related to the $90,000 payment Duffy received from Wright.
The fraud charges include charges for amounts both over and under $5,000.
The RCMP confirmed it is also investigating a separate Senate matter but did not provide any details.
"We continue our work on another Senate file, again we will update Canadians once our work is completed," said Michaud.
Bribery is an act that usually involves two people but no one has been charged with offering Duffy a bribe. Ottawa lawyer Lawrence Greenspon told the CBC this is an unusual situation.
"It will remain to be seen what role will be played by the other side. It takes, as they say, two to tango and it takes two to offer and accept a bribe," said Greenspon.
MSN
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