Liberals, NDP say ‘ matter closed’
Suspended MPs Pacetti, Andrews to finish terms as independents
The Liberals and NDP moved swiftly Thursday to end months of controversy over sexual misconduct allegations, with Grit leader Justin Trudeau accepting a plan under which two suspended MPs will quietly finish their terms as independents and not run for the Liberals in this year’s election.
A report by an independent expert on the accusations against Montreal- area MP Massimo Pacetti and Newfoundland and Labrador MP Scott Andrews will remain under wraps.
And the NDP, which has carefully guarded the identities of two of its female MPs who were the targets of the apparent misbehaviour, says it will have nothing further to say on the issue.
“I accept the decisions of Mr. Massimo Pacetti and Mr. Scott Andrews to sit as Independent Members of Parliament and to not seek the Liberal nominations in their respective ridings. As such, I consider this matter closed,” Trudeau said in a written statement Thursday.
Trudeau suspended both MPs last fall when the allegations first arose, and was reportedly poised to expel them permanently this week. But Pacetti said on Wednesday that he will leave politics at the next election, and Andrews said on Thursday that he will sit as an independent and not seek the Liberal nod for the 2015 race.
Trudeau declined further comment, though his statement added that the party will provide training for all caucus and staff members on issues around harassment and misconduct.
Andrews appeared at a news conference Thursday in Conception Bay, N. L., after being provided a summary of an independent report by Toronto lawyer Cynthia Petersen. Trudeau had asked her to look into the misconduct allegations because there was no formal process in the House of Commons to investigate complaints between MPs.
Andrews did not describe Peterson’s findings, but said, “My friends, family, and the people who know me will decide on if I’m innocent or not.”
He said he will decide in the coming weeks whether to run as an independent in the next federal election. For now, he will continue as an independent MP for Avalon.
He said he had given Petersen a frank and honest account of events to “ensure a fair and restorative resolution of this matter.”
Pacetti, who represents the riding of Saint-Leonard- SaintMichel, said Wednesday that he would serve the remainder of his term as an independent and not run again.
In Vancouver, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said, “I’ve been offering support and will continue to do so to the two complainants and I’m going to hope that they will be able to do exactly as they wish, which is to move on from this.”