What Does Spector Know Anyway?

In his many columns written for The Globe & Mail, I always found Norman Spector to be a reliable toady for his old boss, Brian Mulroney. That's why I figured his appearance before the Commons ethics committee to discuss the cash that flowed through 24 Sussex Drive would likely be some sort of mundane whitewash - the "nothing to see here" sort of appearance.

But Brian Mulroney is plainly concerned about what his former minion may have to tell the committee members. About an hour before Spector's scheduled appearance, Mulroney has dumped a mass of documents onto the committee.

"Norman Spector will appear before the ethics committee beginning at 3:30 p.m. EST – an hour after the Mulroney camp launched a pre-emptive strike in the form of documents released by Mr. Mulroney's camp and posted to his media relations site.
The documents include a statement by Marilyn Burk, former assistant to Mr. Spector, concerning the removal of confidential files from the prime minister's office. In it, Ms. Burk claims a secretary was instructed by Mr. Spector in late 1991” to photocopy a file that contained records of household expenses submitted by Mr. Mulroney's wife, Mila.

There are also “various documents relating to the system of expense management at the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) and OLO (Opposition Leader's Office)” and “to payments for 24 Sussex furnishings.”

The hearing is just about to begin so I think I'll take it in on Newsworld. This could just be interesting after all.