Allen hooker incident disgusts Redford
EDMONTON — Premier Alison Redford says she was “disgusted” with the actions of Mike Allen, arrested earlier this week in the U.S. in a prostitution sting, and noted the Fort McMurray MLA has already cut a cheque to cover the cost of his taxpayer-funded trip.
Speaking at a pancake breakfast Thursday at the legislature to kick off K-Days, Redford said someone from her office talked with Allen 30 minutes after finding out the news, after which he submitted his resignation from caucus. He also wrote a refund cheque of $2,061.44, the premier’s office confirmed.
The 51-year-old Allen has not yet decided whether he will resign as an MLA.
Allen had been in St. Paul, Minn., with Calgary-Fort MLA Wayne Cao, attending the Council of State Government Midwestern Legislative Conference, when he was arrested Monday night. St. Paul city attorney Sara Grewing says the case is being reviewed for “possible gross misdemeanour charges,” and U.S. prosecutors expect to decide by Friday whether to pursue charges.
A Minnesota statute prohibits anyone from engaging in prostitution or hiring someone for the purposes of prostitution in a public place, including locations such as hotel rooms and massage parlours.
“I was shocked and disappointed to see the conduct,” said the premier, who has not spoken with Allen. “As the (former) justice minister, I would say we need to let the justice system take its proper steps, whether its in Canada or the United States.”
Redford said Allen will have to live with the consequences. Even if he isn’t charged, Redford said she is “troubled” as to whether to let Allen back in caucus.
Ultimately, it will be up to his constituents to decide if he should stay in office, she said.
“When I was justice minister, we started doing work with respect to sexual exploitation of women and human trafficking,” Redford said.
“This is an issue that is very close to my heart. The actions of people that are involved in this are symptomatic of that circumstance and we’re going to keep doing that work that we need to do as a government.”
She said, “In terms of that MLA’s conduct, it was more than inappropriate. I was disgusted by it. We will let the course of justice proceed.”
Redford said she has said little about the case until now, not because it’s unimportant but because “it is so clearly wrong.”
The government will decide in time who should replace Allen on the Treasury Board and as special adviser to the Highway 63 project.