Ethics inquiry opened over Justin Trudeau’s actions in bribery case

Canada’s parliamentary ethics commissioner said Monday he would look into allegations that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau improperly pressured his former attorney general to call off a criminal case against an engineering company based in Montreal.

The announcement followed several days of allegations that Trudeau, or members of his staff, improperly tried to force a settlement of charges that the company, SNC-Lavalin, paid millions in bribes to officials in Libya.

Citing anonymous sources, the Globe and Mail said Trudeau’s office had pressed his justice minister and attorney general to pressure prosecutors to use a new law that would allow a “remediation agreement” with the company.