National rejects Ross’ claims

Disgraced MP Jami-Lee Ross is threatening to drag Simon Bridges and the party down with him after announcing he will quit and force a by-election over explosive allegations that the National leader is corrupt.

Ross also accused Bridges of trying to force him out of Parliament over what he claims are trumped-up allegations that he harassed four women. Bridges has denied all of Ross’ claims.

National issued a statement yesterday saying it found ‘‘no proof of the accusations and assertions made by Jami-Lee Ross today in regard to the handling of our political donations’’.

Ross said earlier, during a nearly hour-long press conference, that he would take secret tape recordings to police today as evidence that Bridges had filed unlawful electoral returns in relation to a $100,000 donation from a wealthy Chinese businessman.

He accused Bridges of asking him to mask the identity of the donor by splitting the donation up into smaller amounts.

Bridges strongly denied the allegation. ‘‘I have done absolutely nothing wrong.’’

Bridges announced that the National caucus had voted unanimously to expel Ross but he refused to answer detailed questions about the $100,000 donation from the wealthy Chinese donor, named by Ross as businessman Zhang Yikun.

Ross said he attended a dinner on May 14 with Bridges at Zhang’s home.

The following week Bridges called him and was excited because he was offered the donation, Ross said.

Bridges asked him to collect the donation and was at pains to point out that could not be made public ‘‘and could I ensure this’’.

‘‘I duly carried out Simon Bridges’ wish.’’

The donation was collected and split into smaller donations, which Ross said was put in the name of different donors.

That meant the full $100,000 was never disclosed to the Electoral Commission.

Ross said he would release photographs from the dinner proving it happened.

Zhang’s wife confirmed to Stuff that Bridges dined at their house.

Ross also referred to a separate donation in the name of The Cathedral Club, which he said was a name used to hide the identity of a friend of Bridges.

‘‘He claims it was a clerical error. I call BS . . . on that. The electoral act says filing a false return is a corrupt practice. Falsifying the name of a donor is a corrupt practice; I believe Simon Bridges is a corrupt politician.’’

Ross said he would go to the police because ‘‘multiple breaches of electoral law’’ were not acceptable.

Ross made the claims as the National caucus met to consider suspending him after an extraordinary series of tweets on Monday attacking Bridges.

But Ross has taken matters out of their hands by announcing he will resign from Parliament and force a by-election in his Botany seat, which he will contest.

Bridges said the caucus had been united in wanting Ross expelled.

‘‘We are not going to tolerate the kind of behaviour we have seen from Jami-Lee Ross,’’ he said.

‘‘The lies, the leaks, and other matters as well are entirely unacceptable.’’

‘‘I have done absolutely nothing wrong.’’ Simon Bridges