Andrew Younger dropped off latest recording, suggests Michel Samson
Younger says 'If I wanted to release it publicly, I would have released it'
Liberal cabinet minister Michel Samson is suggesting Dartmouth East MLA Andrew Younger himself dropped off the 43-second secret recording earlier this week at the Nova Scotia legislature, something Younger has denied.
Early Friday, Samson said the government had proof and would make it public. However, later in the day he declined to release the evidence.
On Thursday, the Liberals released the recording Younger made last February, in which the premier's chief of staff offers to line up a job for Younger's wife. At the time, Younger was on a forced leave of absence.
In the House of Assembly Friday, Samson called on Younger to say whether he was the one who dropped off the tape in a package that was addressed to the premier's press secretary, Laurel Munroe.
"If I wanted to release it publicly, I would have released it to the media just as I did before," said Younger.
Younger added because the matter is being investigated by the RCMP, he would not comment publicly on the matter and would reserve any statement for police.
To date, two recordings have been released publicly.
New letter
In a two-page letter to the chief clerk of the legislature dated Thursday, Younger goes into detail about what he says he does and does not know about the two recordings made of conversations between him and Kirby McVicar, the premier's chief of staff.
On Thursday, Younger said he did not release the second recording, but did say he shared it with his advisors.
In the letter, Younger says a member of the RCMP and his team of advisors recommended he make a recording of a conversation between him and the premier's chief of staff to protect himself.
On the same day, the premier made mention of a 20-minute recording, which is something Younger disputes.
"If the Premier or House Leader has determined there was a 20 minute conversation I can only surmise that they have a recording of their own, which I would encourage them to release, as I am extremely confident that such a recording would further go to demonstrate that the Premier's Office was fully involved in making demands on the actions of me and my family," said Younger's letter.
Just over one week ago, Younger released a two minute and 39 second recording between him and McVicar that was recorded in Younger's constituency office. In that recording, McVicar is heard trying to convince Younger that while he no longer has the complete trust of the premier, it's possible McNeil would welcome him back into cabinet. There is a four-second gap about halfway through the recording.
On Thursday, the House unanimously passed a motion calling on Younger, who now sits as an independent, to release any and all recordings in his possession of conversations with McVicar.
In the letter, Younger says he has complied with this request. He also says he is not aware of any other recordings of conversations between him and McVicar or McNeil, other than the two that have been released to date.
Younger also says that on Nov. 5, his BlackBerry "was completely wiped remotely and without warning at the direction of the Premier's office."
Leave of absence
That issue involved former Liberal staffer Tara Gault, who was under police investigation for assaulting Younger and was charged. Younger has admitted to having a "personal relationship" with Gault.
Younger was fired from cabinet and the Liberal caucus two weeks ago and stripped of his minister's salary of $49,046.51.
Earlier that week he'd refused to testify at Gault's trial, invoking his privilege as an MLA.