Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff concluded six days on the witness stand Wednesday at the Mike Duffy expenses trial.
Most of the time, Nigel Wright was cross-examined by the senator’s lawyer, Donald Bayne, who’s consistently questioned Wright about the $90,000 cheque he wrote for Duffy and letting the senator say he’d actually paid it back.
Wright repeated his previous testimony that he wanted Canadians to understand Duffy had repaid the money and didn’t give much significance who had done so.
When Duffy’s lawyer again asked if Wright didn’t think that was a misrepresentation, he told the court, ”I don’t know if I’d go that far. I just didn’t think it was a bad misrepresentation.”
Bayne also wondered if Wright was meeting the high standards of transparency, clarity and integrity by allowing Canadians to think Duffy had repaid the expenses.
Wright said he didn’t think so.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Harper was again asked about the scandal during a campaign event in London.
”I am not going to cherry-pick facts that are in dispute. The fact of the matter is I have held those who are responsible accountable.”