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None of the allegations contained in the statement of claim has been proven in a court.

A spokesman for the prime minister provided a strong statement of denial.

“The allegations are groundless and they will be refuted vigorously,”said Harper’s press secretary, Carl Vallee.

“This latest action is ridiculous. The voters have made their minds up on Helena Guergis.”

Among those sued along with Harper are two of his senior aides, a Conservative party lawyer, a private investigator who came forward with an allegation about the conduct of Guergis, and two Tory MPs. Several of those named by Guergis said they had not seen the statement of claim and could not comment.

The statement of claim alleges those being sued conspired to present various allegations about her behaviour — including fraudulent activity, extortion, association with prostitutes, and cocaine use (including “snorting” the drug off a prostitute’s breast).

All the allegations are false and defamatory and have “resulted in damage to the plaintiff’s reputation,” as well as her “political career, health, and well-being,” says the statement of claim.

Guergis was formerly in Harper’s cabinet as minister of state for the status of women. But that ended suddenly in April 2010 when Harper announced that his office had become aware of “serious allegations” regarding her conduct which he was forwarding to the RCMP and to the ethics commissioner.