Clement booted from Tory caucus in wake of allegations
OTTAWA — Tony Clement, the two-time Conservative leadership hopeful with a storied career in right-wing politics in Ontario, has been pushed out of his party amid a growing list of allegations of sexual impropriety.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer told reporters Wednesday that Clement has resigned from caucus — at Scheer’s request — a day after Clement alleged he was being extorted after sending sexual photos to an unknown party.
While Clement suggested Tuesday that it was an isolated incident, several women spoke out against him on Twitter, suggesting he had instigated inappropriate contact through social media.
“I took him at his word that this was an isolated incident. Since then, there have been numerous reports of other incidents, allegations,” Scheer told reporters outside the House of Commons. “New information became available today that suggests that there are allegations that this is not an isolated incident, and therefore I asked Tony to resign from caucus, and he has done so.” In a statement Tuesday evening, Clement said he had sent several sexually explicit photos and one video to a person he believed to be a consenting adult. At Clement’s request, the RCMP is now trying to figure out who that person actually is. Clement has not responded to multiple interview requests from the Toronto Star.
Claire McWatt, a staffer for Toronto Coun. Jon Filion, said she’s heard from dozens of people after she posted on Twitter that Clement sent her late-night messages. The multitude of messages she received suggest the advances are “extremely common with this individual, with Mr. Clement. What should be most nerveracking is how common it is,” McWatt told the Star Wednesday.
The Star reported Tuesday night that Clement notified the Privy Council Office, the department that supports the prime minister, about the incident. The Prime Minister’s Office has also been apprised of the matter. That would be rare for an opposition MP caught up in a sexting scandal. But Clement sat on the newly-formed National Security and Information Committee of Parliamentarians, a top-secret clearance committee of MPs and senators that now oversees Canada’s national security apparatus.
Global News reported Clement was blackmailed for $86,000, although the Star has not independently verified that information. Clement did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.
Multiple women on Twitter accused Clement of late-night messages on social media platforms.