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Justin Trudeau has become the first prime minister in history to have been found guilty of contravening the Conflict of Interest Act.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Mary Dawson found that he violated four sections of the law in connection with taking a family vacation on an island owned by the Aga Khan.

But as damning as Dawson's report is, Trudeau's fumbling response to a question from the CBC's Rosemary Barton might cause the most political damage.

It's the video clip from hell and it came after Barton pointed out that the prime minister took a free holiday from someone he considers a friend.

Then Barton asked why Trudeau didn't recogize "this might not have been okay".

You can see his response below.

Video of Trudeau guilty of ethics violation

Trudeau's answer sounded more like gibberish than the comments of a statesman.

After a few moments, he found his footing.

"On the issue about family vacation with a personal friend, it wasn't considered that there would be an issue there," Trudeau said.

This controversy comes in the aftermath of Finance Minister Bill Morneau's dustups with the opposition over bringing forward pension legislation while holding shares in an employee-benefits company that he previously headed.

The overall impression for many middle-class and lower-income Canadians is that Trudeau and his finance minister are not like them. They're part of the richie-rich crowd, somewhat entitled, and at times, a little too glib.

Even Trudeau's initial smile upon hearing Barton's first question will likely be offputting for some Canadians, in light of the seriousness of Dawson's findings.

These images stick with people, just like former prime minister Brian Mulroney's smarmy responses did when concerns used to be raised about how he was living lavishly at 24 Sussex Drive.

The hoi polloi don't go on all-expenses-paid family vacations to private islands owned by billionaires.

It's astonishing that someone with Trudeau's political experience didn't see the trouble this could cause when he decided to do this as prime minister.