Trudeau rules out fresh probe on allegations against Liberal candidate Raj Saini

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This article was published 03/09/2021 (1466 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA – Justin Trudeau faced fresh demands for an independent inquiry into allegations that a Liberal candidate harassed a female staff member on Friday.

At a news conference, the Liberal leader ruled out a further probe into the conduct of Raj Saini, saying that there were already “strong, rigorous, independent processes in place.”

Saini, a Liberal candidate in Ontario, has faced complaints that he harassed a former member of his staff, allegations which he firmly denies.

The allegations, reported by CBC, have not been independently verified by the Canadian Press.

The Liberals have come under pressure from the Conservatives and NDP over their decision to allow Saini to run for a third time for office.

On Friday, Trudeau faced further questions about whether the “processes” that looked into the Saini allegations were sufficiently independent.

Trudeau said he took such allegations “extremely seriously.”

Earlier this week, a former Liberal staff member said on Twitter that she was “beyond disappointed” by how the leader’s office has handled the matter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 3, 2021.