Senators have little interest in suspending Pamela Wallin a 2nd time
Those who ousted her from Red Chamber in 2013 note that RCMP have not laid charges
After two years with no pay or privileges, Senator Pamela Wallin is back to work in the Senate — and those who led the charge to suspend her have little interest in expelling her again.
The former broadcast journalist and diplomat was ejected two years ago over questions about her travel expenses, but that suspension ended when Parliament dissolved in August for the federal election.
Wallin remains the subject of an RCMP investigation.
But those senators who once voted to kick her out have little appetite to sanction her a second time.
Conservative leader in the Senate Claude Carignan does not think another motion should be put forward.
"Before we had a report from the internal economy [committee], we decided to use our disciplinary process; we did, she had a sanction, she served the sanction and now she has the constitutional obligation to be here," he said.
Fellow Conservative Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen, who was a key member of the internal economy committee that sat in judgment and wrote the report on Wallin, now says Wallin should continue to sit.
"She hasn't been charged," she said.
In an interview with CBC News chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge in 2013, Wallin apologized for mistakes she may have made when filing travel claims.
She has since paid back a total of $154,191.
But according to court documents, the RCMP believe Wallin committed fraud and breach of trust by asking the Senate to reimburse her travel expenses for private business.
She has not been charged.
Senator Bob Runciman, who also voted to oust Wallin, said he's comfortable with having her back.
"I think anyone who is left out there twisting in the wind for over two years, it's not right and it reflects badly on the RCMP," he said.