FIGHTING BACK New Democrat MP Christine Moore plans legal action after allegations of sexual misconduct

OTTAWA — New Democrat MP Christine Moore says she’s taking legal action to fight a former soldier’s allegations of sexual misconduct, which she describes as a “total lie” aimed at attacking her credibility.

In an exclusive interview, Moore told The Canadian Press she intends to bring a defamation lawsuit against Glen Kirkland, as well as columnists Neil Macdonald, Christie Blatchford and Rosie DiManno, who reported on the matter.

“To want to do that because I dared to denounce people who behaved inappropriately, I think it’s horrible,” she said, referring to her role in the recent investigation into her colleague Erin Weir, as well as Liberal MPs Massimo Pacetti and Scott Andrews in 2014.

All three men were excluded from their respective caucuses following the investigations.

“My private life was exposed,” she said. “My sex life was exposed. It was hard for me. It was hard for my family ... for everyone around me.”

In the presence of her lawyer, the 34year-old Quebec MP said she had a romantic relationship with Kirkland that lasted about four months, between June and October 2013.

“We were lovers,” she said, adding they had discussed long-term plans. “Maybe he lied to me and never loved me, but at the time I was sure we were lovers.”

In the interview, she showed photos and a plane ticket indicating he’d planned to visit her in Quebec as proof of the relationship. One of Moore’s close friends confirmed that Moore and Kirkland dated.

But Kirkland, when reached by phone in Manitoba, maintained he had never been in a relationship with Moore.

“God no! Relationships mean both parties have to be involved,” he said.

The 34-year-old Realtor has alleged that Moore behaved inappropriately toward him when he was vulnerable and she was in a position of authority due to her role as an MP. But he says he did not file a complaint.

He said he only discussed the matter when a journalist questioned him.

Kirkland ran for the federal Liberal nomination in Brandon-Souris riding in 2014 before pulling out, according to The Brandon Sun.

While he confirmed certain details of Moore’s account, Kirkland refused to fully discuss the events. He said he was ready to take a lie-detector test.

The two met on June 5, 2013, when Kirkland, who was injured in a Taliban ambush in 2008, testified in a parliamentary committee about the treatment of injured soldiers in Afghanistan.

Kirkland said Moore then invited him to her office and encouraged him to drink gin, even after he told her he was taking medication and shouldn’t drink. He claims she later followed him to his hotel room and spent the night.

Moore, on the other hand, dismisses Kirkland’s account as “absolutely ridiculous,” pointing out she had to vote in the House of Commons that evening.

“I spent three hours voting that night, it’s on video,” she said. “I cannot have followed him to his hotel room.”

House of Commons records show Moore was present at 10:40 p.m. for a series of votes that ended about an hour later.

Moore says she went to Kirkland’s hotel afterwards in response to an invitation sent via text message and had a consensual sexual encounter.

The Canadian Press was not able to verify the text.

Moore said that while she invited the group of soldiers for drinks and gave Kirkland her business card, she disputes other aspects of his account.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh suspended Moore from her parliamentary functions pending an investigation.