The leader of the Liberals in the upper chamber says the eagerness to punish Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau smacks of a coverup.

James Cowan says that’s because the Conservatives are suddenly pushing for a quick vote on motions to suspend the trio without pay follows months of inaction.

Brazeau has told the Senate, the Tories approached him and promised him leniency if he apologized for claiming ineligible expenses.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister did rare one-on-one radio interviews with stations in Toronto, Saskatoon and Halifax in an effort to calm the waters ahead  the party policy convention in Calgary next week.