OTTAWA -- Fraud and breach of trust charges against Patrick Brazeau are expected to be dropped Wednesday, the senator’s next scheduled court date, his lawyer suggested Tuesday.
Brazeau is the last of three senators to have charges pending against him following the Senate expenses scandal. Sen. Mike Duffy was the first to go to trial and was cleared of all 31 charges after a year-long court proceeding. The Crown then dropped the charges against retired senator Mac Harb.
The RCMP also announced it was closing its investigation into Sen. Pamela Wallin’s expenses without recommending charges.
The Crown has set a court date for Wednesday morning in Ottawa, at which point it is likely to tell the judge there isn't enough evidence to proceed.
Brazeau's lawyer declined to provide additional details, but said the Crown initiated the appearance. Brazeau doesn’t have to be in court for this stage of the proceeding.
Questions were raised about Brazeau's expenses after media reports that he claimed a Maniwaki, Que. home as his primary residence despite living mostly in Gatineau, the city across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill. Senators and MPs who make their homes outside of the National Capital Region - and therefore have to maintain two residences - are allowed to claim living expenses for their Ottawa-area residence. Parliamentarians living outside the area can also choose to stay in a hotel when they're in Ottawa, rather than buying a second home.
