Military vice-chief denies any wrongdoing
OTTAWA— Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, who was abruptly removed as the second-in-command of Canada’s military, denies that he’s done anything wrong and looks forward to being “cleared,” according to his lawyer.
High-profile Toronto lawyer Marie Henein, who successfully defended broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi, now has Norman as a client and, in a forceful statement, said she hopes he can soon return to his post.
It’s been just over a month since Norman was abruptly and mysteriously removed as the vice-chief of defence staff. In a statement issued Thursday, Henein broke the silence he has maintained since his ouster.
“Vice-Admiral Norman looks forward to being cleared and unequivocally denies any wrongdoing. He has at all times served his country honourably and with the sole objective of advancing the national interest and the protection of Canada,” Henein said.
Norman is the former head of the Royal Canadian Navy who took over as vice-chief of defence staff last August in a ceremony where he was praised as “loyal and tireless.”
Norman was forced out from his post in early January by Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff. Vance has been tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding Norman’s sudden departure, saying only it was the “right thing to do.”
But Vance and others have refused to clarify what allegations sparked Norman’s removal, what investigations might be ongoing or how long they might take.