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Dear Debbie Jodoin:
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You don’t mind if I drop you a line, do you?
I mean, this open letter is not legal advice, so there’s no need to be excessively formal.
It’s simply an open letter written to you, the person identified as the “whistleblower” who prompted the expulsion of Patrick Brown from the Conservative leadership race.
One complaint from one person: that’s all it took, Debbie. Apparently what you had to say was so powerful, so incontrovertible, so damning, you alone could force the expulsion of one of the frontrunners in your party’s leadership contest. Even after the ballots have been printed up with his name on them. Wow.
What did you say that would have such a dramatic result? That’s the question everyone is asking, because the Conservative Party brass are refusing to say anything meaningful.
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Sure, there’s been an unverified claim that you were being paid by someone to assist the Brown campaign.
But since Jesus was a little fella, companies and associations and unions have been lending people to political campaigns. Hell, the NDP wouldn’t exist if they didn’t accept labour from labour. As long as it is disclosed, and as long as it is within a certain limit, it’s fine. Everyone does it.
Now, Debbie, I sent you a number of questions prior to writing this opinion column. You did not respond to any of them.
Here they are:
1. Have you received employment or compensation, or offer of same, by the Poilievre campaign or the Conservative Party?
2. You have posted multiple statements on social media applauding Poilievre and his campaign staff. Were you in contact with them, or their representatives, when you were ostensibly supporting Patrick Brown?
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3. We have received statements and suggestions that you were placed — or offered yourself to do so — in the Brown campaign by the Poilievre campaign to damage the former. Is this true?
4. Have you received any compensation or consideration from any individual associated with the Poilievre campaign, or supportive of same?
Anyway. No response.
One podcaster, James Di Fiore, elicited a response from you. He also asked you if the Conservative Party had given you a job. Because he, and we, had heard that too.
Here’s how you responded: “No comment.”
No comment is probably what your lawyer has advised you to say, Debbie, because that’s what lawyers often (foolishly) do. But here’s the thing: Patrick Brown has hired one of the best lawyers in the world, Marie Henein, to fight his expulsion. “No comment” won’t work with her.
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Full disclosure — and full disclosure is something I personally recommend you do as well, Debbie — I have worked with, and have retained, Marie Henein, Scott Hutchinson and Alex Smith, and many other people at their fine law firm. Marie and Scott are among the best lawyers I have ever met. Marie, in particular, is probably one of the best cross-examiners ever to exist.
This is something you are about to discover, Debbie, the hard way. By the time Marie is done with you, you may be very much wondering whether you should have come forward as a “whistleblower.” You may be wondering whether any of it was worth it. You may be wishing you hadn’t been born.
Because Marie Henein is not going to let you get away with “no comment.” Nope.
Now, Patrick Brown and Marie Henein are not without legal challenges, too. They need to figure out how to get you under oath and how to force you to answer their questions. But if they do? Strap on your helmet, Debbie.
That’s the main purpose of this open letter to you, Debbie. To advise you to get the best damn lawyer you can possibly afford. Do so now. Now.
Because, God knows, you are about to have that experience you will never ever forget — ever.
Yours truly,
Etc.
Article content
Dear Debbie Jodoin:
Advertisement 2
Article content
You don’t mind if I drop you a line, do you?
I mean, this open letter is not legal advice, so there’s no need to be excessively formal.
It’s simply an open letter written to you, the person identified as the “whistleblower” who prompted the expulsion of Patrick Brown from the Conservative leadership race.
One complaint from one person: that’s all it took, Debbie. Apparently what you had to say was so powerful, so incontrovertible, so damning, you alone could force the expulsion of one of the frontrunners in your party’s leadership contest. Even after the ballots have been printed up with his name on them. Wow.
What did you say that would have such a dramatic result? That’s the question everyone is asking, because the Conservative Party brass are refusing to say anything meaningful.
Advertisement 3
Article content
Sure, there’s been an unverified claim that you were being paid by someone to assist the Brown campaign.
But since Jesus was a little fella, companies and associations and unions have been lending people to political campaigns. Hell, the NDP wouldn’t exist if they didn’t accept labour from labour. As long as it is disclosed, and as long as it is within a certain limit, it’s fine. Everyone does it.
Now, Debbie, I sent you a number of questions prior to writing this opinion column. You did not respond to any of them.
Here they are:
1. Have you received employment or compensation, or offer of same, by the Poilievre campaign or the Conservative Party?
2. You have posted multiple statements on social media applauding Poilievre and his campaign staff. Were you in contact with them, or their representatives, when you were ostensibly supporting Patrick Brown?
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Article content
3. We have received statements and suggestions that you were placed — or offered yourself to do so — in the Brown campaign by the Poilievre campaign to damage the former. Is this true?
4. Have you received any compensation or consideration from any individual associated with the Poilievre campaign, or supportive of same?
Anyway. No response.
One podcaster, James Di Fiore, elicited a response from you. He also asked you if the Conservative Party had given you a job. Because he, and we, had heard that too.
Here’s how you responded: “No comment.”
No comment is probably what your lawyer has advised you to say, Debbie, because that’s what lawyers often (foolishly) do. But here’s the thing: Patrick Brown has hired one of the best lawyers in the world, Marie Henein, to fight his expulsion. “No comment” won’t work with her.
Advertisement 5
Article content
Full disclosure — and full disclosure is something I personally recommend you do as well, Debbie — I have worked with, and have retained, Marie Henein, Scott Hutchinson and Alex Smith, and many other people at their fine law firm. Marie and Scott are among the best lawyers I have ever met. Marie, in particular, is probably one of the best cross-examiners ever to exist.
This is something you are about to discover, Debbie, the hard way. By the time Marie is done with you, you may be very much wondering whether you should have come forward as a “whistleblower.” You may be wondering whether any of it was worth it. You may be wishing you hadn’t been born.
Because Marie Henein is not going to let you get away with “no comment.” Nope.
Now, Patrick Brown and Marie Henein are not without legal challenges, too. They need to figure out how to get you under oath and how to force you to answer their questions. But if they do? Strap on your helmet, Debbie.
That’s the main purpose of this open letter to you, Debbie. To advise you to get the best damn lawyer you can possibly afford. Do so now. Now.
Because, God knows, you are about to have that experience you will never ever forget — ever.
Yours truly,
Etc.