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Details about the government’s decision leaked to the media, and the resulting embarrassment forced the government to back down on its plans.

Photo by Steph Crosier/Postmedia Network/File

Norman and at least one other federal government employee — who remains on the job — have been under RCMP investigation for more than a year, but during an April hearing a judge questioned the validity of some of the allegations the police made against Norman in a sworn information to obtain a search warrant for his home.

Norman’s lawyers made the request for financial assistance, available under a special program for public servants facing legal issues arising from the course of their employment with government.

However, in a letter dated Nov. 20, 2017, and sent to Owen Rees, an Ottawa-based lawyer for Norman, Department of National Defence/Canadian Forces senior general counsel Michael Sousa wrote, “In disclosing confidential government information respecting a Government of Canada procurement initiative to a third party without authorization, he does not meet the eligibility criteria.”

Sousa also sent his response to defence minister Harjit Sajjan and Jody Thomas, the deputy minister at DND.

Sousa’s letter does not name that third party, nor provide any evidence to support the claim against Norman.

DND sources tell Postmedia that the department has not conducted a separate investigation into the Norman case; the determination of the vice-admiral’s guilt was made by a small number of senior department officials.