Thibeault's Legal Council Responds To Allegations

Ian Smith, personal counsel to Glenn Thibeault has responded saying, what the Crown prosecutor said takes a shot at Thibeault’s reputation without ever naming him as a target of its investigations.

Smith says the comments were not factually correct and are disgraceful.

He went on to say that they will not be commenting any further but will consider legal options when it comes to serious reputational damage.

Here is the full statement letter from Ian Smith

I have seen in media reports this afternoon comments attributed to the Crown prosecutor in the case against Pat Sorbara and Gerry Lougheed.  Those comments, made outside of Court to reporters, allege that Mr. Thibeault sought “benefits, offers, jobs or employment” as a condition of running as the Liberal candidate in the 2015 Sudbury by-election.  Those comments are false.  Mr. Thibeault neither sought nor was offered a bribe.  

There are a number of problems with the comments made by the Crown prosecutor today.  First, as I have said, the comments are factually incorrect.  Second, the prosecutor chose to make his remarks outside of Court to reporters instead of respecting the sub judice rule, which recognizes the impropriety of out-of-court comment on a prosecution which is before the courts.  Third, the Crown has chosen to sully Mr. Thibeault’s reputation without ever naming him as the target of its investigations, without ever charging him, and, most importantly, knowing that he will have no trial where he could mount a proper defense.  The unfairness of the situation is obvious and supremely frustrating.

These comments are disgraceful and ill-considered, yet will probably cause Mr. Thibeault serious reputational damage in respect of which he will consider all of his legal options.  Unlike the Crown, however, Mr. Thibeault and I will respect the sub judice rule and will not comment further on the matter other than to reiterate that Mr. Thibeault has done absolutely nothing wrong.