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News leaked Wednesday that Liberal leader Justin Trudeau would permanently remove Mr. Andrews and MP Massimo Pacetti from the party after receiving an independent report on the allegations against them.

Mr. Andrews said Thursday that he has seen an executive summary of the investigation, conducted by Toronto lawyer Cynthia Petersen, and is “satisfied” with the findings.

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Then on Thursday, it got weirder. While Mr. Pacetti made clear he would not be seeking re-election, Mr. Andrews, a day earlier, had issued a statement seemingly indicating he would not be leaving quietly. But when he got in front of the press less than 24 hours later, Mr. Andrews said he had finally seen the report and was satisfied with the findings. A reporter asked if he wanted to deny any specific allegations against him — notably, that he had followed a fellow MP home after a social event and groped her — but Mr. Andrews shrugged off the opportunity. He said the process has shown him “the worst side of politics,” and announced that he would abandon his bid to re-join the Liberal caucus.

This whole mess began back in October, when a female NDP MP approached Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and told him of harassment she had allegedly experienced from Mr. Pacetti, as well as inappropriate behaviour on the part of Mr. Andrews on behalf of another female MP. Mr. Trudeau asked Liberal whip Judy Foote to informally investigate the matter, and a result of that process, ended up bouncing the two MPs from the Liberal caucus. The men had not been informed of the specific allegations against them, but Mr. Trudeau nevertheless stood in front a room of reporters and announced that because of “serious personal misconduct,” the MPs would be suspended from caucus. “As a leader, I have a responsibility — a duty — to act,” he declared.