Helena Guergis lied in her interview with CBC news anchor Peter Mansbridge when she told him she did not know the allegations that led to her abrupt departure from cabinet and removal from caucus, according to a series of Conservative talking points circulated to a select group of supporters and MPs.
Under the headline, "FACT CHECK on CBC interview," the document picks apart aspects of the Guergis interview that was broadcast last night on CBC television. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives wasted no time in trying to discredit Ms. Guergis, who is beginning to fight back against her treatment.
Her interview last night was compelling. She made her case and also showed the Prime Minister to be a cold boss who gave her little comfort – or even the benefit of the doubt – during her troubles.
That's not the way the Tory strategists saw it, however.
"Ms. Guergis wasn't telling the truth about not knowing the allegations," their memo says. "She was told the specific allegations by the party lawyer. Remember, she issued a statement after being dumped from cabinet saying she denied 'all of the allegations.' How could she deny allegations she knew nothing about?"
The memo also says Ms. Guergis's claims that her husband, defeated Edmonton Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer, did not use her Parliament Hill office were also wrong. "In fact, we have documented use of her office for his private dealings. This material is with the lobbying commissioner and the parliamentary commission looking into the matter."
Ditto on her claim that Mr. Jaffer did not use her parliamentary email account. "In fact, we have documented use of her email for his private dealings. This material is with the lobbying commissioner and the parliamentary committee looking into this matter."
Tomorrow, that commission – the House government operations committee – will hear from Derrick Snowdy, the private investigator upon whose allegations the Prime Minister’s based his decision to turf Ms. Guergis.
