Ex Liberal justice minister 'offered contracts'

[scribblet]

This is so Chretienesque, .... so Martinesque .... so Quebec-ish.

Vancouver lawyer Michael Galambos claims under oath that former Liberal justice minister Martin Cauchon offered him federal prosecution contracts in exchange for support of ex-prime minister Paul Martin at a fundraising dinner

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/justice+m...4444/story.html

A Vancouver lawyer claimed under oath that former Liberal justice minister Martin Cauchon offered him federal prosecution contracts if he bought a table at a fundraising dinner for ex-prime minister Paul Martin, according to documents filed with the Supreme Court of Canada.

Cauchon ceased to be minister of justice in December 2003 and did not run for re-election after Martin failed to name him to cabinet.

He did not testify in the civil case in which the allegation was made, and his assistant said he was unavailable for comment while on vacation until Wednesday.

The highly regarded, 46-year-old former MP for the toney Montreal riding of Outremont, a fierce loyalist to Martin's predecessor, Jean Chretien, said last fall he was considering a return to politics and even running for the Liberal leadership.

The explosive claim that he bartered prosecution contracts in exchange for donations to Martin, if true, would suggest the ambitious minister was trying to ingratiate himself in the dying days of his mentor's regime.

LAWYER DROPS BOMBSHELL

Lawyer Michael Galambos dropped the bombshell during a seemingly insignificant $200,000 lawsuit against his former accountant Estela Perez -- who apparently loaned him money, dressed him in $4,313.22 worth of new suits from Harry Rosen, slapped a down payment on a lease for his Mercedes CLK and hired his firm to do her family's legal work.

cont..

[Smallc]

So....we have a he said she said situation then.....

[capricorn]

I wonder if this had anything to do with his decision not to seek the Liberal leadership. For a guy who sounded gungho about running, he sure dropped out quick.

Former cabinet minister Martin Cauchon is testing the waters for a Liberal leadership bid.

The 46-year-old is touting himself as a potential agent of generational change.

Cauchon, who quit politics in 2004 after 11 years at Jean Chretien's cabinet table, confirmed today that he's seriously considering making a comeback.

He says he's "very much flattered and pleased" by encouragement he's received from party members.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...me=&no_ads=