Cadman bribe tape wasn't doctored: Expert
Ted Colley , Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, October 10, 2008
SURREY, B.C. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's own audio expert says a tape providing key evidence about an alleged bribe was not doctored as Harper has claimed.
Author Tom Zytaruk asked the prime minister on tape about an alleged attempt by Conservative officials to bribe Independent MP Chuck Cadman.
In 2005, Cadman told his wife, Dona Cadman, that two Conservative representatives had offered him a $1-million life insurance policy in exchange for his vote in a confidence motion aimed at bringing down the Liberal government.
A file photo of Independent MP Chuck Cadman. Author Tom Zytaruk asked the prime minister on tape about an alleged attempt by Conservative officials to bribe Cadman.
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Cadman was terminally ill at the time and died just two months later.
The Zytaruk interview was taped after his death.
Articles posted on the Liberal Party website accused Harper of knowing that the bribe would be offered, an allegation he denied. Not long afterward, the prime minister responded by launching a $3.5 million defamation lawsuit against the Liberal Party.
Two audio experts hired earlier by Harper said the tape appeared to have been doctored.
An Ontario judge ordered another analysis and Harper tapped former FBI agent Bruce Koenig for the job.
Koenig said the portion of the tape dealing with the insurance policy "contains neither physical nor electronic splices, edits or alterations," according to a report entered in court on Friday.
Last month, Harper was able to persuade the court to put the lawsuit on hold until after the Oct. 14 federal election. Harper also tried to keep Koenig's report out of the court record until the vote had passed, but the Liberals were able to get it on the record Friday.
Zytaruk, who has steadfastly maintained the tape was never altered, said he's happy about the timing.
"I'm glad this came out before the election. I was really looking forward to testifying because it's not pleasant to be accused on a national scale of doing something dishonest, such as doctoring a tape."
Dona Cadman, the Conservative candidate in Surrey North, could not be reached for comment before press time.