Politics

Closing arguments to begin today in Duffy trial

Duffy's trial started last April, and he faces 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery

Sen. Mike Duffy, a former member of the Conservative caucus, arrives at the courthouse for his trial in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Sean Kilpatrick/CP

Sen. Mike Duffy, a former member of the Conservative caucus, arrives at the courthouse for his trial in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Sean Kilpatrick/CP

OTTAWA – Closing arguments are set to get underway today in the fraud trial of Sen. Mike Duffy.

Duffy’s trial started last April, and he faces 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.

The daily revelations from the trial became a thorn in the side of former prime minister Stephen Harper during last year’s election campaign.

Duffy has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which centred on some of his questionable expense claims.

He testified that he never intended to claim for anything he wasn’t entitled to, but the Crown has argued that Duffy was fully aware of what he was doing.

Two weeks have been set aside for the final arguments from prosecution and defence, but Judge Charles Vaillancourt asked for written submissions first.

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