The problem that Nigel Wright poses

There are three lingering problems with the Wright/Duffy affair.

 

(1)    It is scandalous behavior regardless of who know what or when.

The reality appears to be that Duffy claimed money that Wright did not think he ought to have claimed. Taking this as the truth, what choice was made? An attempt at damage control. People of high integrity confront wrongdoing then they encounter it. Their integrity required that they stand up for what is right. That is NOT what happened here. Instead, a cover up was attempted. Duffy should have been thrown under the bus. That was the path of integrity. He was not. Instead, a secret scheme was concocted for the perceived advantage of the Conservative Party. Harper may well have been in the dark. I accept that he was -- I don't think he plays his cards as strongly as he is at present unless he actually did not know. Still, this is dishonest behavior of people at the highest level of government. No wonder people are disillusioned with politics.

(2)    I am incredulous about some things being said.

From CBC:

Duffy's lawyer Donald Bayne questioned Wright about a conversation he had with Harper about Duffy's expenses. Wright has previously testified that Harper wasn't informed that the Conservative fund would be used to pay off Duffy's expenses. Instead, Wright has said he told Harper that Duffy would repay the expenses.

Bayne asked Wright why he would lie to the prime minister.

"I don't think I lied to the prime minister," Wright said.

"I don't feel it was lie. I just felt it wasn't on my list of things I needed to check with him."

"That's not true and you know it wasn't true. Duffy was not going to repay," Bayne replied. 

He asked Wright if he didn't think there was a difference between Duffy repaying and the money coming secretly from the Conservative fund.

"I didn't think that was a distinction that was that significant," Wright said, adding what was important was that the expenses were paid back.

I call b******t. Nigel Wright is a very, very smart and successful man. I am willing to accept that he did not tell the Prime Minister the truth. I am willing to accept that he purposely sheltered his boss. If he did it's because he knew that the scheme was sketchy and he did not want Harper smeared should it be found out. But, I am not willing to accept that he saw no distinction here. That is simply ludicrous. There is a distinction and he knows it. He either flat out lied to the PM or the PM knew about the scheme. For him to claim a third possibility is ludicrous.

(3)    Harper has a legitimate problem on his hands.

From CBC:

Evidence tabled during the trial last week suggested that Ray Novak,  Harper's current chief of staff, may have been aware of Nigel Wright's secret plan to repay Duffy's questionable expense claims.  

If Ray Novak (and perhaps 5 other people in the brass of the party) knew about this scheme then they, too, need to go. Go back to the first point. This was a selfish, dishonest, reprehensible scheme. If others knew about it then they need to suffer the consequence as well. Otherwise, Harper is allowing the “I was just following orders” defense. Um… no. Not good enough.