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Pablo Rodriguez is once again insisting he didn’t know about questionable fundraising practices during his successful bid for the Quebec Liberal Party leadership.
The party issued a statement Tuesday responding to the latest allegations published in the Journal de Montréal. The media outlet reported that some donors at a private fundraising event were reimbursed for their $500 contributions to Rodriguez’s campaign with cash-filled envelopes.
According to the report, some of the guests couldn’t afford to donate $500 (the maximum allowed by law) to Rodriguez’s campaign. So the host decided they would receive an envelope covering their contribution — an illegal practice.
Quebec law specifies that each individual is responsible for their donation and cannot use the name of another person to give an additional donation.
In the statement, the Liberal Party confirmed Rodriguez was present at the event last April, but maintained that neither he nor his team had any knowledge the payouts were taking place.
The party said that following the media report, it was able to identify the event’s host, who admitted to reimbursing roughly 20 people.
“This act is unacceptable, contrary to ethics, to current rules, and has never been part of the campaign’s practices,” the statement from the Liberals said. “It was carried out without authorization, without directive, and completely without the knowledge of Pablo Rodriguez and his team.”
The Liberals said they have mandated a lawyer to file a formal notice with Quebec’s anti-corruption unit (UPAC) and the province’s chief electoral officer to ask them to look into the report.
The allegations represent the latest blow to Rodriguez and the Liberals, who have been hampered by party infighting and another report of a vote-for-cash scheme during his leadership.
UPAC has already launched an investigation into that matter. Rodriguez has maintained he knew nothing about that arrangement as well.
The ongoing turmoil has led some Liberals to call for the leader’s resignation, claiming the ongoing crisis has damaged the party heading into an election year.
Rodriguez has insisted he will stay on and fight to win the next provincial election.
WATCH | Rodriguez says he will remain leader of the Liberals:
Quebec Liberal Party leader plans to stay on amid ongoing anti-corruption squad investigation
Despite calls from some former MNAs and ministers to resign, Pablo Rodriguez says he’s not going anywhere and will remain party leader. This comes as the province’s anti-corruption squad, UPAC, confirmed it’s opened a criminal investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by the Quebec Liberals.
