Canadian PM says plan to sue opponent for lying in politics

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday that his plan to sue opposition Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer is about making sure there are consequences for lying in politics.



Trudeau said there are "consequences short-term and long-term when politicians choose to twist the truth and distort reality for Canadians."



Asked whether he plans to follow through with his planned lawsuit, he said with an election on the horizon, he won't put up with politicians twisting the truth and distorting reality.



Scheer said on Sunday that a letter from Trudeau's lawyer threatened him with libel suit over his comments that accused Trudeau of interfering with the criminal prosecution of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin, lying to Canadians and corrupt conduct.



The letter called Sheer's claims about Trudeau "highly defamatory."



Scheer challenged Trudeau to follow through with the lawsuit, calling it "a bullying attempt" to prevent his party from holding the government to account.



Trudeau has been under fire for the last two months over allegations that there was pressure on former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to interfere in criminal proceedings against SNC-Lavalin.

