Article content continued

“It’s important to know this decision was made independent of me or any other elected official,” Schweitzer said.

“The process worked exactly as it was supposed to — free from any influence.”

Schweitzer said he was informed of the ACPS decision after it was made.

UCP handling of investigation ‘a mess’: Notley

Schweitzer came third in the UCP leadership race. On Sunday he was interviewed by police officers regarding the case, but is not himself under investigation.

He admitted in the house Wednesday he told Kenney’s staffers about the RCMP interview.

Opposition leader Rachel Notley said Thursday Schweitzer should never have “said a single word” about that interview to the premier’s office, given how closely Kenney is tied to the investigation.

“(It’s) yet another indication of the Attorney General acting inappropriately and … the premier acting inappropriately,” Notley said.

Notley said the RCMP investigation into the UCP leadership race should never have reached a place where the attorney general was being interviewed as a witness, while people under his direction were in charge of the investigation.

“That was a mess. The whole thing was a mess. We pointed it out over four weeks ago,” she said.

“That’s why we need to continue to be vigilant.”

The allegations

It has been alleged that former UCP leadership candidate Jeff Callaway was in the race solely for the purposes of attacking Jean, allowing Kenney to remain above the fray. Several people linked to Callaway’s campaign have been fined a total of $71,000.