Bell: RCMP probe of UCP leader race — Five years and a nothing burger

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So it was stated to be large. Actual large.

And dangerous. Actual dangerous.

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Proper earlier than the 2019 election. Rachel Notley’s NDP in opposition to Jason Kenney’s UCP.

Kenney is accused of dishonest to win the management of the UCP in 2017.

The RCMP are known as in and an investigation begins.

If Kenney was dishonest his strategy to the highest to grow to be chief of his personal get together, how might you probably vote for him or the UCP?

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There have been allegations hurled breathlessly.

Nice stuff, so it was stated. Nice timing! Nearly too dangerous to be true.

A man by the title of Jeff Callaway enters the UCP management race as a kamikaze candidate to assault fellow management hopeful Brian Jean after which pull out of the race and again Kenney.

The kamikaze candidate raised round $95,000 from individuals who thought he was a legit candidate.

The cops examine for the Legal Code offence of fraud as a result of that’s what the police do.

They give the impression of being to see if anybody has damaged the legislation.

On Friday, after a five-year investigation, they don’t uncover any proof of a legal offence.

Then there have been allegations of id fraud, once more a Legal Code offence, the place emails have been created to obtain numbers wanted to vote within the UCP management race and votes have been forged with out the information or consent of people.

The RCMP legally acquired their fingers on the database of greater than 60,000 voters.

The variety of probably suspicious votes numbered lower than 200 and a few of this group had harmless explanations for a number of the votes.

In case you have been asking, Kenney received the UCP management by 18,000-plus votes.

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There was inadequate proof to cost anybody.

There was no proof any management candidate orchestrated id fraud.

The police consulted prosecutors from outdoors the province on whether or not to put any legal expenses.

On Friday, the RCMP are questioned by the press in Edmonton.

Listening to the questions from afar, you get a way of what’s going on.

Is that it? Is that every one? So many tales written. So many accusations thrown on the wall.

The place is that smoking gun?

The primary query: Why no expenses? Actuality was onerous for some to swallow.

The reply: Inadequate proof.

“We absolutely investigated this,” insists RCMP Supt. Rick Jane.

‘We didn’t finish this investigation till we have been happy there have been no different avenues that have been viable to pursue.”

The Mountie says they’ll have a look at new proof if somebody brings it ahead and if there’s a viable investigation to be carried out they’ll pursue it.

The police superintendent says there was no “widespread state of affairs” of wrongdoing and no conspiracy and no hacking and if any id fraud may very well be confirmed in courtroom it could be a really small, small share of the general vote.

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It could be “a small subset of the overall suspicious votes,” which, in whole, have been lower than 200.

Again in 2019, anybody who suggested taking a breath till the investigators sifted by means of the rubble earlier than delivering a social media responsible verdict was slimed as a UCP flunky and headed for a candy gig as director of communications for Kenney if he grew to become premier.

Or was it chief of workers?

Incorrect once more.

The police say there was no stress from the federal government. They went so far as they may go.

They have been by no means advised to wrap up the investigation.

The RCMP superintendent additionally says their job is to not cost folks in any respect prices.

In reply to a query, he added he by no means briefed political officers.

So we now have 5 years, 65 investigators, 226 hours of audio for 563 interviews.

There was virtually half one million bucks for time beyond regulation and journey, together with out-of-province journeys to B.C., Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Allow us to not neglect the 69,922 pages of paperwork and the 20,625 digital information and the cops on the case from detachments throughout Alberta.

Allow us to not neglect the Crown prosecutors introduced in from Ontario.

Properly, that’s 5 years carried out.

5 years and thousands and thousands spent when the ultimate tab is tallied.

There might be those that consider their political opponents must be presumed responsible till confirmed harmless.

There might be those that consider one thing nonetheless smells on this case.

No matter helps get them by means of the night time.

rbell@postmedia.com

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