Tories boot Clement in sexting scandal
OTTAWA — Andrew Scheer says he has asked Tony Clement to leave the Conservative caucus after more allegations of sexual impropriety were brought to his attention.
Late Tuesday, Clement stepped down as the Conservative justice critic and resigned his committee roles after admitting he sent sexually explicit images and a video to someone he thought was a consenting woman. The recipient then turned around and demanded money to not share the images publicly.
Scheer said Clement brought the matter up with him last week, and that at a face-to-face meeting on Monday, he was assured by Clement that this was the only time he had done such a thing.
“New information became available today that suggests there are allegations that this is not an isolated incident and, therefore, I’ve asked Tony to resign from caucus and he has done so,” Scheer said.
That decision came just four hours after Scheer had said Clement would remain in the caucus because, while sending such images was a “terrible lapse in judgement,” it appeared to be between two consenting adults.
Scheer wouldn’t give specifics about any of the additional allegations that led to Clement’s caucus departure, but said a party or parliamentary investigation is possible.
Since the news broke, there have been numerous accounts on social media from young women saying Clement had made them feel uncomfortable online, direct messaging them late at night with questionable messages.
Clement’s role on the national security and intelligence committee of parliamentarians is a particular concern because he was given top-level security clearance for it.
Scheer said both the RCMP and the security officials in the Privy Council Office were investigating whether national security had been put at risk.
He wouldn’t say whether an investigation is underway to determine if any other MPs have been targeted in a similar extortion attempt. He said there is a code of conduct for MPs that he expects them to follow.
“I don’t know that too many people … have to be told not to share explicit images and videos with people that you haven’t met,” Scheer said.
Clement is married to Toronto lawyer and author Lynne Golding. They have three grown children.
Clement did not respond to numerous attempts by the Canadian Press to comment on the allegations. However, in an email to the Globe and Mail, he denied harassing anyone on social media.
“I’ve never sent unsolicited harassing messages, ever.”