Mike Duffy timeline

Here are some of the main timeline highlights in the Mike Duffy file. For the full chronology, go to www.theguardian.pe.ca. Dec. 22, 2008: Then-prime minister Stephen Harper announces Duffy’s appointment to the Senate as a representative for Prince Edward Island. Duffy is sworn in the next month. December 2012: Questions are raised about how much time Duffy spends at his declared primary residence in P.E.I., since he claims living expenses for his longtime Ottawa-area home. Dec. 4, 2012: Duffy says he got an email from Nigel Wright, the prime minister’s chief of staff, saying it appeared that Duffy’s residence expenses complied with the rules. Feb. 22, 2013: Claiming confusion with the rules, Duffy pledges to pay back the expenses. April 19, 2013: Duffy confirms he has repaid more than $90,000 in Senate housing expenses. May 15, 2013: The PMO confirms a media report that Wright personally footed the bill for Duffy’s housing expenses because Duffy couldn’t make a timely payment. June 13, 2013: The RCMP confirms it has launched a formal investigation into Wright’s involvement. Oct. 17, 2013: Claude Carignan, the government’s new leader in the Senate, introduces motions to suspend Duffy, Sen. Pamela Wallin and Sen. Patrick Brazeau from the Senate over questioned expenses. The motions call for the three to be stripped of their pay, benefits and Senate resources. Oct. 22, 2013: In an explosive speech in the Senate, Duffy accuses Harper’s office of orchestrating a “monstrous fraud” aimed at snuffing out controversy over his expenses. Nov. 5, 2013: Senators vote to suspend Brazeau, Duffy and Wallin without pay - but with health, dental and life insurance benefits intact - for the remainder of the parliamentary session. July 17, 2014: Duffy is charged with 31 counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. April 7, 2015: The trial begins with Duffy formally pleading not guilty to all charges. Aug. 21, 2015: Twitter says the Duffy trial is becoming the most tweetedabout election topic. Dec. 8, 2015: Duffy takes the stand for six days of testimony and two days of cross-examination. April 21, 2016: Duffy is acquitted on all counts. May 2, 2016: Duffy returns to Parliament Hill July 25, 2016: The Senate says it will claw back $17,000 in expenses from Duffy. Aug. 24, 2017: Duffy announces he is suing both the Senate and the government of Canada over the actions of the RCMP.