MP quits Liberal caucus over harassment allegations
Darshan Kang says he stepped aside to focus on ‘clearing my name’
OTTAWA— Embattled Liberal MP Darshan Kang resigned from caucus Thursday night, releasing a statement that said he will focus on clearing his name in the face of accusations of sexual harassment.
The Calgary MP has previously declared his innocence as a parliamentary investigation continues into his alleged conduct toward a young female staffer who worked in his constituency office.
The Hill Times, which revealed the harassment investigation on Aug. 11, reported Thursday that a second woman who worked for Kang when he was an Alberta MLA has come forward with allegations against him.
The Star was unable to reach the woman for comment.
Charles-Eric Lépine, chief of staff to the Liberal government whip, confirmed in an email Thursday that his office received allegations from a second woman. He said they were forwarded to the House of Commons chief human resources officer, Pierre Parent, who is carrying out the investigation into Kang’s conduct.
Lépine noted that the allegations occurred when Kang was an Alberta MLA and said his office “suggested that, if (the woman) feels comfortable doing so, she should share her story with the local police.”
The Hill Times reported that the second woman claimed Kang repeatedly groped and kissed her against her will when she worked for him in 2011 and 2012.
The Star could not independently verify the allegations.
Earlier this week, the father of another woman who worked in Kang’s office told the Star that the MP offered her $100,000 to keep allegations of sexual harassment from her parents. These allegations included unwelcome hugs and hand-holding, as well as an incident in June when Kang allegedly tried to give the 24-year-old wine, take off her jacket and then force his way into her hotel room to talk, the father said.
The father said the Liberal party’s deputy whip in the House of Com- mons, Hamilton MP Filomena Tassi, travelled to Calgary in June to interview his daughter about her allegations — suggesting the government has known about the accusations against Kang for two months.
Tassi has not responded to interview requests from the Star.
None of the allegations against Kang has been proven.
In his statement Thursday, Kang said he appreciates that the parliamentary process under which he’s being investigated allows him to give his “perspective” on the allegations.
“However, I do not wish my present circumstances to further distract from any of the good work being carried out by my colleagues in the government,” Kang said. “I wish to focus my efforts at this time on clearing my name.”
The resignation came two days after Kang proclaimed his innocence and said he would defend himself at all costs. Kang also said that he was placed on medical leave for stress related to the allegations.
He did not respond to a request for comment from the Star Thursday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was criticized this week by the NDP for failing to suspend Kang from the Liberal caucus while he’s being investigated for sexual harassment. Earlier instances of alleged harassment and assault resulted in caucus expulsions, such as in 2015 when two Liberal MPs were accused of harassing female members from the NDP.
Trudeau told reporters this week that a new process that was put in place in 2014 is being followed, and declined to comment further.
“The whip’s office is very much engaged, as it must be in this process, and we will allow this process to unfold as it should,” he said.
The human resources office investigates claims of harassment, abuse of authority, misconduct and sexual harassment among MPs and parliamentary employees, including workers in constituency offices.