Gerald Butts, Justin TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 principal secretary and long-time friend, has resigned amid allegations that the Prime MinisterB次元官网网址檚 Office interfered to prevent a criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.
In a statement, Butts unequivocally denies the accusation that he or anyone else in the office improperly pressured former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to help the Montreal engineering giant avoid a criminal case on corruption and bribery charges related to government contracts in Libya.
Nevertheless, Butts says the allegation is distracting from the B次元官网网址渧ital workB次元官网网址� Trudeau is doing so itB次元官网网址檚 in the best interests of the Prime MinisterB次元官网网址檚 Office for him to step aside.
B次元官网网址淚 categorically deny the accusation that I or anyone else in his office pressured Ms. Wilson-Raybould B次元官网网址� At all times, I and those around me acted with integrity and singular focus on the best interests of all Canadians,B次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淎ny accusation that I or the staff put pressure on the attorney general is simply not true B次元官网网址� But the fact is that this accusation exists. It cannot and should not take one moment away from the vital work the prime minister and his office is doing for all Canadians.
B次元官网网址淢y reputation is my responsibility and that is for me to defend. It is in the best interests of the office and its important work for me to step away.B次元官网网址�
Wilson-Raybould resigned from TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 cabinet last week. She has not explained why and she has not commented on the allegation, levelled by anonymous sources in a Globe and Mail story 10 days ago, that she was improperly pressured, citing solicitor-client privilege. She has hired a former Supreme Court justice to advise her on what she may legally say.
Please see this statement from . As someone who has worked closely with Gerry, I know how deeply he believes in public service and this country. We are lucky to have had him serve it in this capacity for so long.
B次元官网网址� Kate Purchase (@katepurchase)
Butts is one of several top Trudeau aides the opposition parties had wanted to call before the House of Commons justice committee to testify on what happened. Liberal MPs on the committee last week used their majority to limit the scope of the committeeB次元官网网址檚 inquiry.
Butts has confirmed that Wilson-Raybould briefly raised the matter of SNC-Lavalin during a meeting in December; he advised her to speak with the clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Wernick.
In his statement, Butts writes positively of his relationship with Wilson-Raybould.
B次元官网网址淚 encouraged her to run for the Liberal Party of Canada and worked hard to support her as a candidate and then cabinet minister. From my perspective, our relationship has always been defined by mutual respect, candour and an honest desire to work together.B次元官网网址�
Butts says heB次元官网网址檚 served Trudeau B次元官网网址渢o the best of my abilities and I have at all times given the prime minister free and unfettered advice.
B次元官网网址淚 have served the public interest, not the interests of any individual or any narrow private interest of any kind, at any time. Life is full of uncertainties but I am absolutely certain of that.B次元官网网址�
Trudeau, who became friends with Butts when the two attended McGill University, tweeted about his principal secretaryB次元官网网址檚 resignation: B次元官网网址淕erald Butts served this government B次元官网网址� and our country B次元官网网址� with integrity, sage advice and devotion. I want to thank him for his service and continued friendship.B次元官网网址�
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