B.C. legislature Clerk Craig James and Sergeant at Arms Gary Lenz were abruptly escorted out of the building Tuesday morning, placed on administrative leave due to a police investigation.
Government House leader Mike Farnworth had little to say about the move after he announced it during debate in the legislature at about 11 a.m.
Alan Mullen, a political advisor to Speaker Darryl Plecas, said there is an ongoing RCMP criminal investigation that James and Lenz were informed about while the motion was being presented in the legislature. Mullen said both are placed on administrative leave with pay, effective immediately.
B次元官网网址淚 can confirm that there has been a special prosecutor assigned,B次元官网网址� Mullen said. B次元官网网址淚 can confirm that there is an active and ongoing criminal investigation by the RCMP. It would be inappropriate to say anything more, because we donB次元官网网址檛 want to jeopardize any investigation that the RCMP have ongoing.B次元官网网址�
Alan Mullen, advisor to , says RCMP investigation into criminal matter, no further details.
B次元官网网址� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
James spoke briefly to reporters after turning in his keys and collecting his personal effects. He said the Speaker, Darryl Plecas, asked him and Lenz to meet him in his office after question period.
clerk and Sgt at Arms placed on admin leave. Clerk Craig James doesnB次元官网网址檛 know why heB次元官网网址檚 being escorted out
B次元官网网址� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
B次元官网网址淸Plecas] looked quite distressed, and wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to convey anything to me,B次元官网网址� James said. B次元官网网址淚 asked him if it had to do with any members (MLAs), any staff, was there a threat on this place. He said none of the above, and quite obviously thereB次元官网网址檚 another reason.B次元官网网址�
The B.C. Prosecution Service announced Tuesday that lawyers David Butcher and Brock Martland were appointed Oct. 1 as special prosecutors in the case, with two required due to the B次元官网网址減otential size and scope of the investigation.B次元官网网址� RCMP notified the service Sept. 28 that the investigation was underway.
James is the chief administrator of the legislature, which has an operating budget of about $70 million. He began his B.C. career in 1987 as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 chief electoral officer and has been clerk since 2011.
Lenz, a former senior RCMP officer, is in charge of legislature security.
Premier John Horgan said he was notified of the situation Monday, but knows nothing more than has been made public. MLAs voted unanimously to support a motion to suspend James and Lenz. The motion specifies that they are not allowed to have access to computer networks or systems or to be in any legislature building, B次元官网网址渟ubject to periodic review by the Legislative Assembly.B次元官网网址�
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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