By Canadian Press

Justice minister says accusation that he intimidated Tory MP in email is ‘ridiculous’

Jun 13, 2023 | 9:31 AM

OTTAWA — Justice Minister David Lametti says an accusation from Tory MP Frank Caputo that the minister tried to intimidate him with an email is “ridiculous.” 

Caputo says Lametti told him in an email last week that he would “let the community know” that he clapped in the House of Commons after fellow Conservative MP Michael Barrett questioned the impartiality of former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci.

Barrett’s comments came after ex-foreign interference watchdog David Johnston said he sought Iacobucci’s legal advice on whether he was in a conflict of interest because of former ties to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation, and said Iacobucci gave him clearance. 

Caputo accused the justice minister, who is also the federal attorney general, of intimidating him and threatening reputational harm in the legal community. 

But Lametti says it was the Italian-Canadian community he was referencing, not the legal community, arguing Iacobucci is an icon to Italian-Canadians. 

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Lametti told reporters this morning that Caputo should be responsible for his actions and he owes the community an explanation. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2023. 

The Canadian Press