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The commissioner’s important findings of fact include:

• There were multiple attempts to improperly influence my decision as attorney general whether to intervene in a criminal prosecution. These attempts persisted despite my ‘direct advice’ to the prime minister. That warning ‘was discounted and ignored.’ The commissioner found all those tactics ‘troubling,’ and these supported his conclusion that the prime minister had violated the Conflict of Interest Act. The commissioner stated that ‘(T)he authority of the prime minister and his office was used to circumvent, undermine and ultimately attempt to discredit the decision of the DPP as well as (my) authority as chief law enforcement officer.’

• Senior staff in the Prime Minister’s Office ‘pressed (me) on the idea of seeking external advice on the matter — all the while knowing the advice that would be given and selectively withholding other material information from (me),’ and this constituted a third attempt to ‘bend the will of the attorney general.’

• The most ‘flagrant’ attempt to influence me occurred during my conversation with the clerk of the Privy Council. The commissioner reflected that it was difficult to imagine that the clerk acted without full and clear appreciation of the prime minister’s position on the matter. The repeated interventions to have me ‘find a solution’ were ‘tantamount to political direction.’

• It was improper to raise partisan political interests with me, in the context of my role in evaluating this prosecutorial decision. This was done on at least four separate occasions.

• It was ‘clearly improper’ for one branch of government to be communicating with applicants to a judicial review challenging a decision made by another branch of government, without the knowledge or involvement of the attorney general or her representative.

• Contrary to a narrative that has been advanced by others, there was no evidence that I failed to consider ‘the public interest’ in making my decision not to intervene. Indeed, the commissioner confirms the steps I took, including consultations with several former attorneys general, to obtain guidance and advice.”