Senator Mike Duffy resigns from Conservative caucus

Embattled Senator Mike Duffy is out of the Conservative caucus after a controversy surrounding his living expenses blew up in a full-blown scandal for Stephen Harper’s government.

The once-treasured party fundraiser and bon vivant become a serious political liability this week after word leaked that Harper’s chief of staff, Nigel Wright, wrote a personal cheque for $90,000 to Duffy to cover repayment of improperly claimed living expenses.

But the Prime Minister’s Office appears to have been blindsided by Duffy’s claims that he had arranged his own loan with Royal Bank of Canada to cover the repayment.
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