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Embattled Coun. Rick Chiarelli has no chance of due process in the city’s sexual harassment investigations because of the rampant bias by the mayor and council, his lawyers charge.

In a letter to all city councillors and the integrity commissioner sent Tuesday, Chiarelli’s lawyers say that “over the last four months or thereabouts, there has been an overwhelming demonstration of patent and palpable bias, by Mayor Jim Watson and other members of Ottawa City Council, which has completely undermined our client’s legal rights, the integrity of the city’s policies and procedures, and the confidence of most right-minded members of the public.”

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Labour and employment lawyer D. Bruce Sevigny writes that the team is “formally requesting that all current proceedings and related investigations be stayed and/or terminated, on the basis of actual bias and/or Councillor Chiarelli’s reasonable apprehension of bias.”

The request came just hours before integrity commissioner Robert Marleau is expected to answer questions from city council Wednesday on his interim report on complaints made against Chiarelli. Multiple women have publicly accused the councillor of inappropriate behaviour on the job and in job interviews including asking whether they would go bra-less to community events. The College ward councillor has denied all wrongdoing and has threatened to challenge the integrity investigation in court.

Chairelli requested medical leave from council last year after the allegations surfaced but was denied. He has since undergone heart surgery and has been recovering from complications, according to his family.

Members of council, including Watson, have urged him to resign.

Chiarelli’s lawyers were retained in July 2019, according to the letter.

With files from Jon Willing

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Twitter: @shaaminiwhy