Mike Duffy takes the stand: What we learned about the embattled senator

Sen. Mike Duffy, a former member of the Conservative caucus, arrives at the courthouse for his trial in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Sean Kilpatrick)

Mike Duffy's long, detailed and at times emotional responses while testifying during his trial on Tuesday revealed some personal details about the embattled senators' relationship with his children, his affinity for the news and his meetings with Stephen Harper.

Here are some things we learned about the embattled senator:

Grueling work schedule led to end of first marriage

Duffy entered the world of journalism as a teenager when he accepted a job speaking with students for a local Prince Edward Island news program.

He eventually made it to Ottawa, and in 1974 he took a job with CBC. There he said he was known as "the fireman” because he was dispatched when something happened. Duffy, at one point while working at CBC, travelled to 20 countries in the span of 12 months. He was on the road for two months straight during the 1979 election campaign, and when he returned home he found a letter from his wife asking for a divorce.

Duffy says he ‘lost his kids’

Duffy became emotional when speaking about his two children. Duffy said he had feelings of guilt for working too hard and he told the court he "lost his kids" after the divorce.

The court heard that Duffy would drive past schoolyards and wonder what his children were doing.

Asked about his relationship with his children today, Duffy revealed he's close with his son but he said he wouldn't know much about his daughter's life if it wasn't for Facebook.

Duffy admitted he went through a period in the mid-1980s when he was "pretty depressed." He said his doctor offered him Valium, but he turned to scotch instead.

His struggles with health problems

Duffy described to the court his extensive health problems, which include a heart condition, diabetes, and sleep apnea. His lawyer even tabled a list of Duffy’s medications in court, despite objections from the Crown. Donald Bayne said Duffy’s medical condition is relevant to the trial because it illustrates how much pressure he was under.

Duffy says he initially refused a Senate seat

Duffy said he initially turned down Harper's offer of a Senate seat, saying he was flattered but planned to keep working until retirement and then move to Prince Edward Island.

Duffy told the court he wanted to sit as an independent because he's a journalist. But Harper said that wouldn't be possible and he needed his vote.

Duffy also said he told Harper that going in as a senator from P.E.I. would not be a popular move, and he preferred representing Ontario.

Duffy said that layoffs at CTV helped him make up his mind to accept the Senate seat, particularly after his wife said that if he left the news organization, he could save the jobs of young staffers.

"I'd be honoured," he recalled telling Harper.

He ‘absolutely’ believes he met residency requirements

Duffy told the court that he moved back to P.E.I and got a driver's license before he was sworn in as a senator.

He told the court that believed he met the requirements laid out by the prime minister.

"Yes, absolutely. I owned property in P.E.I, so that was that," said Duffy.

When asked by defence lawyer Donald Bayne if there was any discussion about the number of days a year, or seasons that were required to be spent at the property, Duffy said "none whatsoever."

"I believe I was a Prince Edward Islander at 10 Friendly Lane, and I'm still there," he said.

Duffy: 'A lot of people didn't trust Mr. Harper'

Duffy recalled a conversation with Harper's aide Jeremy Hunt after he was offered the Senate post, but before he accepted it.

Duffy said that he and the 18 other senators who were appointed on Dec. 22, 2008 were given their posts because "a lot of people didn't trust Mr. Harper" and they could provide "third-party validation."

He told the court that Patrick Brazeau, Pamela Wallin, Nancy Greene-Raine and himself were appointed because "we had a national profile."

In particular, he said that Brazeau was there to "convince natives that voting Conservative isn't a bad thing," and Wallin, who he said was "always in Toronto," was there to tell the arts community that "Harper wouldn't kill the CBC.”

Duffy says he received reassurances from PMO

A Charlottetown newspaper published a story two days after Duffy's appointment quoting a law expert who said that his seat was unconstitutional. Duffy told the court that article made him "quite concerned," and he called the Prime Minister's Office who assured him that he was "fully qualified" as a resident of the province.

"The message back from the PMO was 'relax' … (it) wasn't taking it seriously. 'There are always people yelling from the sidelines, so ignore them.'"

Duffy told the court that a few weeks later he met with Marjory LeBreton, the former government leader in the Senate, who similarly told him that he was "fully qualified" and he should "relax."