Sen. Colin Kenny cleared in harassment probe, report says
OTTAWA—Sen. Colin Kenny, who has been under a cloud over allegations he harassed an office aide, says he is looking forward to the episode soon being over.
Kenny would not comment Tuesday on a report that an independent Senate investigation had cleared him of the allegations.
“I have confidence in the process though and I’m looking forward to this whole thing coming to a conclusion,” Kenny told the Star.
CBC News reported Tuesday that the investigation into sexual harassment, workplace harassment and abuse of authority had found that the presumption of innocence favoured Kenny in each case.
A spokesperson for the Senate administration said it does not comment on personnel matters.
Kenny, a one-time aide to Pierre Trudeau who was appointed in 1984 by the former prime minister, stepped out of the Liberal caucus last fall after the allegations came to light.
Pascale Brisson told the CBC News at the time that Kenny sexually harassed her during the time she worked in his office.
“He said sexual comments at work and also invited me over to his house for a few drinks,” Brisson told CBC News.
“At that moment, I asked if it was related to work. He said he just wanted to get to know me. So, I refused the invitation.”
She also said in the televised interview that the senator asked her to wear high-heeled shoes in the office and put his hand on her waist when they were meeting alone.
Both Kenny and Brisson have five days to respond to the findings in the report.
Kenny was also the subject of an internal party probe after Brisson told CBC in an earlier interview that much of her time in Kenny’s office was taken up with work not related to Senate business, such as tending to personal bills and personal appointments.
A Liberal party spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday seeking an update on that investigation.